Progress report on 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die list. I've listened to 317 albums so far. So I'll be about 1/3 of the way through by the end of the year. Revising my goal down to 500 albums or so. I'll be happy if I hit 50%. Looking back perhaps an album per day was ambitious.
What was definitely ambitious was my fantasy of blogging about every album. Lester Bangs I am not.
So, I'll just highlight a few albums that I was most surprised I liked.
1) Peter Tosh's Legalize It. - Never thought I would like reggae as much as I do but this album by ex-Wailer Tosh proved me wrong. Till Your Well Runs Dry is a great song.
2) Arular by M.I.A. Great hooks.
3) Viva Hate and Your Arsenal by Morrissey - I liked these better than I liked The Smiths' albums. Not that I disliked The Smiths, but I think they are better as singles than as albums. Well, maybe excepting Strangeways, Here We Come - that hangs together well.
4) Sweetheart of The Rodeo by The Byrds - I never knew the folk rock pioneers had cut a great country album. I maybe shouldn't have been surprised at this one since The Flying Burrito Brothers (Gram Parsons' band post-Byrds) were already a favorite.
5) Get Rich or Die Tryin' by 50 Cent - I love this album like a fat kid loves cake!
Albums that I wasn't necessarily surprised I liked but just had never encountered before in their entirety:
1) Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young - Mostly for the excellent and haunting Thrasher.
2) Most of The White Stripes catalog - I hadn't listened to them much before, but now they are some of my go-to albums.
3) Ramones by the Ramones - Straight ahead punk rock.
4) The Doors by The Doors - More great song bang for the buck then any other album. Particularly a debut album.
5) Nevermind by Nirvana - Even though I was in high school in the early 90s I think I let grunge mostly pass me by, but I can see why this was such a turning point in music. You just let Smells Like Teen Spirit roll over you and the rest of the album keeps going.
Overall I am very happy with how this is going. I'm being exposed to a lot. Hopefully breaking out of my bubble. As an ex-girlfriend told me as she was becoming my ex: "There is more out there than the Beatles and The Rolling Stones". Turns out she was right. Though Let It Bleed still rocks.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
#62 - Doctor!, Doctor!*
Finally got my ass to the doctor. For all my neglect, everything was fine. Bad cholesterol was a little high. Everything else was perfectly in range.
I feel better knowing that now. And it is good to establish a relationship before anything bad happens.
I'm sure I'll get sick sometime in the next year, so I'll be able to get there again before the deadline.
*Apologies to the Thompson Twins.
I feel better knowing that now. And it is good to establish a relationship before anything bad happens.
I'm sure I'll get sick sometime in the next year, so I'll be able to get there again before the deadline.
*Apologies to the Thompson Twins.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
#80 - Hiking with someone you love
Two new hikes to report:
1) Washington State Park (Oct 16-17th) - Backpacked the 6 mile Rockywood Trail. This was my first solo backpacking trip. I have to admit it was kind of scary being out alone. Did you know that at 3 o'clock in the morning an acorn falling off of a tree sounds like Death coming for you? True fact.
Nice trail, and as it turned out I was pretty well prepared. Should have tossed in an extra quart of water, but it wasn't critical. One note, the area highlight of Native American rock carvings are kind of a letdown, and not worth making the trip for alone.
2) Englemann Woods Natural Area (October) - A pleasant little 2 mile day hike out past St. Albans, MO. Not much to say, just a pretty jaunt through the woods. The guidebook is correct that you should carpool to the trail-head since parking is non-existent.
P.S.A.: Dogs on trails are fine, and even letting them off the leash is acceptable (though technically wrong). But either have the dog trained or have some means to control them. This public service announcement is because at Englemann I bumped into a dog without a collar or a leash and while the owners were there and the dog was friendly, it was a bit overactive and jumped and bumped.
1) Washington State Park (Oct 16-17th) - Backpacked the 6 mile Rockywood Trail. This was my first solo backpacking trip. I have to admit it was kind of scary being out alone. Did you know that at 3 o'clock in the morning an acorn falling off of a tree sounds like Death coming for you? True fact.
Nice trail, and as it turned out I was pretty well prepared. Should have tossed in an extra quart of water, but it wasn't critical. One note, the area highlight of Native American rock carvings are kind of a letdown, and not worth making the trip for alone.
2) Englemann Woods Natural Area (October) - A pleasant little 2 mile day hike out past St. Albans, MO. Not much to say, just a pretty jaunt through the woods. The guidebook is correct that you should carpool to the trail-head since parking is non-existent.
P.S.A.: Dogs on trails are fine, and even letting them off the leash is acceptable (though technically wrong). But either have the dog trained or have some means to control them. This public service announcement is because at Englemann I bumped into a dog without a collar or a leash and while the owners were there and the dog was friendly, it was a bit overactive and jumped and bumped.
#49 - First Aid Kit
Put together my backpacking first aid kit a couple months ago. Actually I did 3 kits - a big kit for week long trips, a smaller one for day hikes, and then a body substance isolation kit which I keep on my person when hiking.
The BSI kit is something I had never considered before but I took a Wilderness First Aid course in April and it was highly stressed. My kit contains a couple pairs of vinyl gloves (non-sterile since I'm outside), a CPR mask, a little LED light to do the PERRL test, the patient evaluation sheet from my course, a pen, some hand sanitizer, and some safety pins.
I won't go into details on the other kits, it is pretty basic stuff. A lot of good resources are online. My advice to anyone following my footsteps is to do it yourself. A prepackaged kit is convenient but generic. Tailor it to your situation and typical hiking environment. And of course your personal medications.
Most importantly, the best first aid resource is practical knowledge. So get a book or take a course. Even if you have the perfect kit, do you have the confidence to take charge of a situation and render aid? Knowledge is empowering. Without a kit, but a brain that functions under pressure, you can make a difference.
Still on the list is #51 - Wilderness EMT or Wilderness First Responder training. The WFA class was good but I want more.
The BSI kit is something I had never considered before but I took a Wilderness First Aid course in April and it was highly stressed. My kit contains a couple pairs of vinyl gloves (non-sterile since I'm outside), a CPR mask, a little LED light to do the PERRL test, the patient evaluation sheet from my course, a pen, some hand sanitizer, and some safety pins.
I won't go into details on the other kits, it is pretty basic stuff. A lot of good resources are online. My advice to anyone following my footsteps is to do it yourself. A prepackaged kit is convenient but generic. Tailor it to your situation and typical hiking environment. And of course your personal medications.
Most importantly, the best first aid resource is practical knowledge. So get a book or take a course. Even if you have the perfect kit, do you have the confidence to take charge of a situation and render aid? Knowledge is empowering. Without a kit, but a brain that functions under pressure, you can make a difference.
Still on the list is #51 - Wilderness EMT or Wilderness First Responder training. The WFA class was good but I want more.
#91 - Plan B in D Major
My original plan for Equus was to go on September 18th. However, it was a hot ticket, and given my twin proclivities for a) showing up at the last moment and b) not planning ahead, I got shut out at the box office. Having already paid for Grand Center parking I cast about for an alternative for the evening. I decided to walk up the road to the Symphony. I had no idea what was there.
What I found was Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major. On the program as featured soloist was Joshua Bell, who evidently is a big deal amongst people who know who the big deals in classical music are. As I've stated before, I am not one of those people, but it sounded pretty good to me.
So what could have been a wash-out of an evening was converted into an enjoyable new experience. The list proves it worth again. Chalk one up for openness to adventure, and what may come.
What I found was Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major. On the program as featured soloist was Joshua Bell, who evidently is a big deal amongst people who know who the big deals in classical music are. As I've stated before, I am not one of those people, but it sounded pretty good to me.
So what could have been a wash-out of an evening was converted into an enjoyable new experience. The list proves it worth again. Chalk one up for openness to adventure, and what may come.
#90 - F'ed up Families Edition
Play recap from the last 3 weeks:
1) High by Matthew Lombardo. A play-in-progress starring Kathleen Turner, touring the country as it makes it way to Broadway. Turner is a no-nonsense nun, who works as an addiction counselor. And, of course, harbors some dark secrets of her own. She attempts to council a drug-addicted teen, who, of course, harbors some dark secrets of his own. The only other person in the play is the priest who runs the place. Who, of course, harbors some dark secrets of his own.
Ultimately this play disappointed me. While Turner was good, I felt I had seen this all before. Maybe this says more about me but this supposedly hard-hitting material felt very after-school special. I wasn't even mildly shocked by the two big reveals in the play. And the onstage nudity (not Turner) was a yawn. The nudity in Equus was done a lot better and was much more integrated into (and integral to) the story. Here it was tacked on. And Evan Jonigkeit, playing the homeless hustler addict, came off about as bad-ass as a Sweathog. Maybe that was an intentional choice, playing tough but scared, but it didn't feel right. At the St. Louis Rep.
2) The Chosen by Chaim Potok and Aaron Posner - Play about two Jewish kids in 1940s Brooklyn, with very different fathers. Bias alert - My cousin David Chandler played Danny the Hasidic Jew whose father can only speak openly to him through intermediaries. I thought he and the other cast members were great. The play itself is good but not great. I can agree with other reviewers who noted that having a narrator on stage is a clunky exposition device. An exception is, of course, made for Our Town.
Here is hoping David has a long career in the theater. At The Mustard Seed Theatre.
3) Long Day's Journey Into Night by Eugene O'Neill. The granddaddy of all addiction plays. Long play - 3 hours with 2 intermissions. But it doesn't drag, it just relentlessly circles the drain, as each character slides deeper and deeper into their own personal hells. Sounds like a fun night out, right? Well, perhaps not exactly fun, but it was riveting to watch, in that car wreck sort of way.
I really noticed the repetitiveness of O'Neill's lines. Characters keep using the same phrases again and again. I think it helped to show the never-changing nature of addiction. You felt like these characters had lived this same day again and again. Stephen King was right, "Hell is repetition".
Ugh, I need a shower. At Muddy Waters Theatre.
1) High by Matthew Lombardo. A play-in-progress starring Kathleen Turner, touring the country as it makes it way to Broadway. Turner is a no-nonsense nun, who works as an addiction counselor. And, of course, harbors some dark secrets of her own. She attempts to council a drug-addicted teen, who, of course, harbors some dark secrets of his own. The only other person in the play is the priest who runs the place. Who, of course, harbors some dark secrets of his own.
Ultimately this play disappointed me. While Turner was good, I felt I had seen this all before. Maybe this says more about me but this supposedly hard-hitting material felt very after-school special. I wasn't even mildly shocked by the two big reveals in the play. And the onstage nudity (not Turner) was a yawn. The nudity in Equus was done a lot better and was much more integrated into (and integral to) the story. Here it was tacked on. And Evan Jonigkeit, playing the homeless hustler addict, came off about as bad-ass as a Sweathog. Maybe that was an intentional choice, playing tough but scared, but it didn't feel right. At the St. Louis Rep.
2) The Chosen by Chaim Potok and Aaron Posner - Play about two Jewish kids in 1940s Brooklyn, with very different fathers. Bias alert - My cousin David Chandler played Danny the Hasidic Jew whose father can only speak openly to him through intermediaries. I thought he and the other cast members were great. The play itself is good but not great. I can agree with other reviewers who noted that having a narrator on stage is a clunky exposition device. An exception is, of course, made for Our Town.
Here is hoping David has a long career in the theater. At The Mustard Seed Theatre.
3) Long Day's Journey Into Night by Eugene O'Neill. The granddaddy of all addiction plays. Long play - 3 hours with 2 intermissions. But it doesn't drag, it just relentlessly circles the drain, as each character slides deeper and deeper into their own personal hells. Sounds like a fun night out, right? Well, perhaps not exactly fun, but it was riveting to watch, in that car wreck sort of way.
I really noticed the repetitiveness of O'Neill's lines. Characters keep using the same phrases again and again. I think it helped to show the never-changing nature of addiction. You felt like these characters had lived this same day again and again. Stephen King was right, "Hell is repetition".
Ugh, I need a shower. At Muddy Waters Theatre.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
525,600 minutes left
One year to go until the deadline of 11/11/11. Still have plenty of time to accomplish many items on this list. Maybe won't get to all but this list is doing what I wanted it to do.
I'm happier than I have been in a long time.
I'm happier than I have been in a long time.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
#94 & #95: Catchy Title: Long Boring Subtitle edition*
Recap of books recently read:
1) Checklist Manifesto: How To Get Things Right by Atul Gawande. Another good recommendation from The Simple Dollar's Trent. Details Gawande's efforts to introduce a simple checklist to minimize surgery complications in his day job. He tries, fails, regroups, and ultimately comes up with something useful and life-saving. His lessons learned are broadly applicable to anyone struggling to manage a complex situation. Gawande advises breaking it down, making sure to note the important steps and stopping points where you can take a breath and re-evaluate what you've done and where you are going. Another good piece of advice: Rather than overly detailed to catch everything, keep them simple. Use specific checklists for specific situations. This was a good read, with many lessons that I'll try to apply over time.
2) Cognitive Surplus: Creativity and Generosity in a Connected Age by Clay Shirky - Discusses how the Internet allows people to more easily be active content producers and be connected with other like-minded people in narrow niches. And the positive impact to society that participation has brought and will bring in the years to come. Interesting tidbit, the 100 million hours it took to make Wikipedia is 1/10th of 1 percent of the time spent by Americans on TV. So it is amazing what a little effort can accomplish in our interconnected world.
3) Diary by Chuck Palahniuk - Another mind bender from the author of Fight Club. Written as a "coma diary" from a once promising art student to her husband (the dude in the coma). Physically and emotionally trapped on a small New England island, she gradually becomes part of a 200 year old conspiracy - her part being to paint and paint and paint. I found it very hard to put down. Also introduced me to the term Stendhal Syndrome which I hope one day to work into a conversation where I need to look either really smart or really pompous.
4) Cash: The Autobiography by Johnny Cash - I read this awhile ago but never marked it down. An engrossing look at the highs and lows of the life and career of a country music legend. Seemed an honest retelling without any gloss. He seems truly grateful for what he has, and for the 5 or 6 second chances he has received in life. Relating this the larger list (#96), At Folsom Prison definitely deserves its spot on the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die list. Listen if you haven't. Also if you are a fan, and haven't tried his later "American" albums you should given them a try. I can speak positively of albums III, IV, and V.
5) The Other 8 Hours by Robert Pagliarini. Subtitled Maximize Your Free Time to Create New Wealth and Purpose, this book was mildly disappointing. It was entertaining but I thought it was short on practical tips and that it covered a lot of the same ground as other time management books like Getting Things Done. It would be a good first book to read if you are newly interested in the subject. Also, and this is picky, his frequent use of his trademarked term Cre8tor (i.e. not a passive consumer) annoyed me. It is way too cute for me. Some of his observations seem over-obvious to me. But then again I've been TV free for about a year now so I recognize his point about what a time suck it can be.
* Homage and Apologies to Raymond Chen.
1) Checklist Manifesto: How To Get Things Right by Atul Gawande. Another good recommendation from The Simple Dollar's Trent. Details Gawande's efforts to introduce a simple checklist to minimize surgery complications in his day job. He tries, fails, regroups, and ultimately comes up with something useful and life-saving. His lessons learned are broadly applicable to anyone struggling to manage a complex situation. Gawande advises breaking it down, making sure to note the important steps and stopping points where you can take a breath and re-evaluate what you've done and where you are going. Another good piece of advice: Rather than overly detailed to catch everything, keep them simple. Use specific checklists for specific situations. This was a good read, with many lessons that I'll try to apply over time.
2) Cognitive Surplus: Creativity and Generosity in a Connected Age by Clay Shirky - Discusses how the Internet allows people to more easily be active content producers and be connected with other like-minded people in narrow niches. And the positive impact to society that participation has brought and will bring in the years to come. Interesting tidbit, the 100 million hours it took to make Wikipedia is 1/10th of 1 percent of the time spent by Americans on TV. So it is amazing what a little effort can accomplish in our interconnected world.
3) Diary by Chuck Palahniuk - Another mind bender from the author of Fight Club. Written as a "coma diary" from a once promising art student to her husband (the dude in the coma). Physically and emotionally trapped on a small New England island, she gradually becomes part of a 200 year old conspiracy - her part being to paint and paint and paint. I found it very hard to put down. Also introduced me to the term Stendhal Syndrome which I hope one day to work into a conversation where I need to look either really smart or really pompous.
4) Cash: The Autobiography by Johnny Cash - I read this awhile ago but never marked it down. An engrossing look at the highs and lows of the life and career of a country music legend. Seemed an honest retelling without any gloss. He seems truly grateful for what he has, and for the 5 or 6 second chances he has received in life. Relating this the larger list (#96), At Folsom Prison definitely deserves its spot on the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die list. Listen if you haven't. Also if you are a fan, and haven't tried his later "American" albums you should given them a try. I can speak positively of albums III, IV, and V.
5) The Other 8 Hours by Robert Pagliarini. Subtitled Maximize Your Free Time to Create New Wealth and Purpose, this book was mildly disappointing. It was entertaining but I thought it was short on practical tips and that it covered a lot of the same ground as other time management books like Getting Things Done. It would be a good first book to read if you are newly interested in the subject. Also, and this is picky, his frequent use of his trademarked term Cre8tor (i.e. not a passive consumer) annoyed me. It is way too cute for me. Some of his observations seem over-obvious to me. But then again I've been TV free for about a year now so I recognize his point about what a time suck it can be.
* Homage and Apologies to Raymond Chen.
Monday, October 25, 2010
#90 - Play on Words
Quick recent play post - focusing on "wordy" plays.
1) God's Ear by Jenny Schwartz (August 2010) - A play about language - "how poorly we use it, how often it fails us, how strange and vital it can be in the midst of desperate need". At Echo Theatre.
2) Equus by Peter Schaffer (9/25/10)- Horses! Nudity! Deep Psychological issues! Another Hot City instant classic.
3) November by David Mamet (October 2010) - Not quite GlenGarry Glen Ross, but a good, newer (2007) comedy play by Mamet. A bumbling president on the verge of losing an election deals with the upcoming loss, having no campaign money, no library, a wife who wants to steal the furniture when they leave, a lesbian speechwriter with a cold and a new Chinese baby, as well as pardoning turkeys. Lots of fun with the language and lots of f-bombs. At the St. Louis Actor's Studio at the Gaslight Theatre.
4) Another Home Invasion by Joan MacLeod - U.S. Premiere of this one-woman meditation on aging. Donna Weinsting plays 80 year old Jean who describes a week in her life taking care of her physically and mentally deteriorating husband Alec. Since there is one actor, who stays mostly seated, Jean's storytelling is what drives the play. Touching, with the right mix of humor, warmth, and sadness. At Echo Theatre.
1) God's Ear by Jenny Schwartz (August 2010) - A play about language - "how poorly we use it, how often it fails us, how strange and vital it can be in the midst of desperate need". At Echo Theatre.
2) Equus by Peter Schaffer (9/25/10)- Horses! Nudity! Deep Psychological issues! Another Hot City instant classic.
3) November by David Mamet (October 2010) - Not quite GlenGarry Glen Ross, but a good, newer (2007) comedy play by Mamet. A bumbling president on the verge of losing an election deals with the upcoming loss, having no campaign money, no library, a wife who wants to steal the furniture when they leave, a lesbian speechwriter with a cold and a new Chinese baby, as well as pardoning turkeys. Lots of fun with the language and lots of f-bombs. At the St. Louis Actor's Studio at the Gaslight Theatre.
4) Another Home Invasion by Joan MacLeod - U.S. Premiere of this one-woman meditation on aging. Donna Weinsting plays 80 year old Jean who describes a week in her life taking care of her physically and mentally deteriorating husband Alec. Since there is one actor, who stays mostly seated, Jean's storytelling is what drives the play. Touching, with the right mix of humor, warmth, and sadness. At Echo Theatre.
#86 - Potato Salad 3-D
Third and probably final Grandma's Potato Salad post. See previous here and here. Made up a batch for parent's Labor Day bash. As usual received rave reviews. And the great thing about that is that I felt I had screwed up. I started way too late the night before and felt I was rushing. Particularly on the step where you fry the bacon, and then mix in the vinegar, sugar, and water. Even though I wasn't happy with the process, it had no effect on the end result. Which gives me a lot of confidence from here on out. And so I'm happy to call this task complete.
Grandma would be proud.
Grandma would be proud.
#63 - The Naked Tooth
Post to note that I finally got off my ass and went to the dentist today. I've never liked going and so I didn't. As usual, avoidance is only effective in the short-term. 8 cavities. Yikes! - That's like 25% of my mouth!. I'm going to have to start flossing, which is awesome because it gives me another reason to use Habit Forge to set a new habit.
On another upside, since I have to go back to get them filled in - it looks like I will make it 4 times to the dentist before the 11/11/2011 deadline.
So let this be a PSA to all the kiddies out there. Go to the freakin' dentist. On the other hand I just learned that Jack London didn't own a toothbrush until he was 19, so maybe it isn't that big of a deal. You can still be a great American novelist even if you can't chew.
On another upside, since I have to go back to get them filled in - it looks like I will make it 4 times to the dentist before the 11/11/2011 deadline.
So let this be a PSA to all the kiddies out there. Go to the freakin' dentist. On the other hand I just learned that Jack London didn't own a toothbrush until he was 19, so maybe it isn't that big of a deal. You can still be a great American novelist even if you can't chew.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
#80 - Hiking roundup
Although I haven't posted on it in awhile I'm still engaged in #80 - working my way through the 60 Hikes with 60 Miles book. This post is a collection of hikes I've done since my last hiking post.1) Hawn State Park (February 15, 2010) - Took a winter day hike with my Dad and his friend Gary along the relatively new White Oaks Trail and the adjoining connectors. Probably did about 6 miles total. The major hike in Hawn is the Whispering Pines Trail, and while I haven't been on that in awhile, I'm considering this one done. I realized that my goal with this task is, when asked, to be able to offer useful suggestions on hikes (length, scenery, difficulty, etc.). Enough knowledge to have an informed opinion. Which is actually come to think of it the reason I'm doing most of this list.
2) Meramec State Park (October 24-25, 2010) - Another hike with Dad and Gary - this one an overnight along the 10 mile Wilderness Trail in Meramec State Park. Good hike, great sleeping weather. Meramec is nice because you can have fires in the backpacking camping sites along the trail. Though I did get a spark hole in my brand new convertible hiking pants.
3) Matson Hill Park (December 2009) - Solo dayhike at a secluded little park out in St. Charles County. Easy walking around the 2.75 mile loop. Very pretty and didn't see a soul.
4) Powder Valley (January 2010) - TL and I took a little walk around this suburban park. It has 3 paved trails totaling 2.2 miles. Saw a bunch, bunch, bunch of deer - very tame deer. Certainly not the most challenging trails but like Emenegger a quick retreat if I ever just need to be outside.
5) Rockwoods Range (December 2009) - Two separate hikes here. The Round House Loop at 3.6 miles which is a nice hike, which I took on a cold day that froze over the nipple on my CamelBak. Had to keep it inside my down jacket. The other is the Fox Run trail which is 3.5 one-way, so 7 out and back. I have to report I was pretty pleased with myself on Fox Run. I was able to accurately follow the contour map and be able to tell where I was. I also had the excellent idea of noting the time I reached significant landmarks. This was useful to gauge remaining distance and my pace on the hike back.
6) Castlewood State Park & Al Foster Trail (Various times) - Over a couple of weekends I did most of the trails in Castlewood State Park. If you can only do one, do the 3 mile River Scene trail. Spectacular views from high bluffs overlooking the Meramec River. TL & I did this and it was really nice. I did really enjoy the 3 mile Grotpeter trail, but it is definitely not as scenic. But it is less crowded and you do feel more isolated.
Also, semi-part of the Castlewood system is the Al Foster Trail. This is a new trail established as part of the Meramec Greenway multi-purpose trail. The nicer section runs from the Glenco Trailhead in Wildwood to Sherman Beach. There it connects up with the western side of the Castlewood State Park trail system - the Stinging Nettle and Cedar Bluff trails. The connection between the River Scene Trail and Stinging Nettle on some older maps is currently off-limits (the latest update I can find is May 2010.) I think because it goes too close to railroad property.
So, anyway my parents and I walked the western half of Al Foster one day in April and then the next weekend I did the eastern half (which is the north part of the Stinging Nettle Loop), and included the Cedar Bluff loop. You can tell no one gets to the Cedar Bluff, it is not that well-maintained. After I got back on the Stinging Nettle / Al Foster, it was only a little ways to the point where the trail used to go east to the rest of Castlewood. Unlike everyone else there that day I choose to honor the off-limits sign and walked back the way I came on Al Foster. I did that since the high Meramec River had closed part of the southern half of Stinging Nettle.
7) Rockwoods Reservation (Sept 2010) - Three good trails in this park. Did the Rock Quarry (2.2) and Trail Among the Trees (1.5) in the spring. Finished the park up with the 3.2 Lime Kiln Loop.
8) Lewis and Clark Trails - More good hiking in St. Charles. This was a pretty trail with great views of the Missouri River. I saw a fox near one overlook. It was curious enough about me to get within 10 feet. This is a "double loop or figure 8" trail - the Clark trial is the western half, taking the middle cut-off is 5.3 miles. I continued on the eastern Lewis Trail for an 8.3 mile total.
I really need to buy a camera to capture all the great sights I am seeing. But this is basically the fox I got within 10 feet of.
And the fox I will never get within 10 feet of :
I've also almost completed Greensfelder Park. So hiking "task" is proceeding nicely.
Also, semi-part of the Castlewood system is the Al Foster Trail. This is a new trail established as part of the Meramec Greenway multi-purpose trail. The nicer section runs from the Glenco Trailhead in Wildwood to Sherman Beach. There it connects up with the western side of the Castlewood State Park trail system - the Stinging Nettle and Cedar Bluff trails. The connection between the River Scene Trail and Stinging Nettle on some older maps is currently off-limits (the latest update I can find is May 2010.) I think because it goes too close to railroad property.
So, anyway my parents and I walked the western half of Al Foster one day in April and then the next weekend I did the eastern half (which is the north part of the Stinging Nettle Loop), and included the Cedar Bluff loop. You can tell no one gets to the Cedar Bluff, it is not that well-maintained. After I got back on the Stinging Nettle / Al Foster, it was only a little ways to the point where the trail used to go east to the rest of Castlewood. Unlike everyone else there that day I choose to honor the off-limits sign and walked back the way I came on Al Foster. I did that since the high Meramec River had closed part of the southern half of Stinging Nettle.
7) Rockwoods Reservation (Sept 2010) - Three good trails in this park. Did the Rock Quarry (2.2) and Trail Among the Trees (1.5) in the spring. Finished the park up with the 3.2 Lime Kiln Loop.
8) Lewis and Clark Trails - More good hiking in St. Charles. This was a pretty trail with great views of the Missouri River. I saw a fox near one overlook. It was curious enough about me to get within 10 feet. This is a "double loop or figure 8" trail - the Clark trial is the western half, taking the middle cut-off is 5.3 miles. I continued on the eastern Lewis Trail for an 8.3 mile total.
I really need to buy a camera to capture all the great sights I am seeing. But this is basically the fox I got within 10 feet of.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
#21 - Pure Power
Knocked #21 off the list - signed up for the Pure Power program with AmerenUE, my local electricity company. Costs me $15 per month, which they use to buy renewable energy certificates. And while the program itself might not be perfect (there's high overhead), it is at least a start, and a monetary "vote" that consumers (well, at least this one) will support the higher costs of switching over to more sustainable energy sources. In my mind it is better to make a gradual transition rather than a jarring dislocation to a post-oil economy. Whenever I think about that I always think about Cliff Robertson at the end of Three Days of The Condor.
Not now - then! Ask 'em when they're running out. Ask 'em when there's no heat in their homes and they're cold. Ask 'em when their engines stop. Ask 'em when people who have never known hunger start going hungry. You wanna know something? They won't want us to ask 'em. They'll just want us to get it for 'em!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
#94 - Fiction roundup - Short but happy dreams edition
Fiction books to report: Turns out half of these I've seen as movies before I read the book. Usually I do it the other way around. Also oddly, most of these are technically novellas.
1) About a Boy by Nick Hornby - Not as good as High Fidelity, but enjoyable.
2) Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote - Quite a bit different than the movie. I remember in a TV-movie about Audrey Hepburn the Truman Capote character, while watching filming, said, "Well, she was a whore in my novel". Or something to that effect. Pretty accurate assessment.
2a) The Truman Capote collection I read also had A Christmas Memory as one of the short stories - and I wanted to make special mention. Read it if you haven't - it is so beautifully written, and so vivid, and funny, and touching, and sweet. Not counting for list.
3) The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum - One of the rare books I liked less than the movie. Though that is probably an unfair comparison, since the movie is almost nothing like the book. That said, I still don't think it was a very good book. It had flashes of brilliance, but I thought it was too slow-paced for a spy novel.
4, 5, 6) Three novels by James M. Cain - Double Indemnity, The Postman Always Rings Twice, and Mildred Pierce - All three were pretty good noir tales. And for the first two I thought the movies tracked closely. Recommended to see both of them if you like film noir. Double Indemnity might be second only to The Maltese Falcon in that genre. I'll see Mildred the movie at some point since Joan Crawford won an Oscar for the title role.
7) Kiss of The Spider Woman by Manuel Puig. Wow! I did not know what to expect when I picked this up on a whim at the library. I was falling behind on #92 - Read Non-English novels. And I'm so glad I was. This is a very, very good novel. Interesting construction - there is no narration or scenic descriptions. It is 90% dialogue, with just dashes indicating change of speaker. It paints an intimate portrait of two men in an Argentinian prison, the revolutionary Valentin and the homosexual Molina. To pass the time Molina recounts old movies he has seen to Valentin. The rest of the time they talk, fight, argue, and bitch about themselves, each other, politics, etc. I know it sounds very "buddy movie" to say at the end they grow to respect one another and appreciate their differences, but it is true, and it comes across in the novel in a surprisingly deep and affecting way.
The 1986 movie (William Hurt - Oscar), which I saw later, was good but not as good as the novel was.
8) The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka - Guy turns into a bug, no one really seems to care, other than how it effects them. Counts for #92 since the original is German. Even Gregor (the bug) is curiously indifferent to why or even how he became a monstrous bug. I wonder what it would be like to know a foreign language well enough to be able to read something without translating it in your head. I can imagine it would be a powerful experience.
9) Rant by Chuck Palahniuk - Another weird novel by the author of Fight Club. Told as an oral history by multiple characters, it is definitely worth the read. Might be worth a second read too since (as in most oral histories), characters conflict on timeline and perceptions. So, going back and trying to figure out what - if anything - is the truth could be worthwhile.
1) About a Boy by Nick Hornby - Not as good as High Fidelity, but enjoyable.
2) Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote - Quite a bit different than the movie. I remember in a TV-movie about Audrey Hepburn the Truman Capote character, while watching filming, said, "Well, she was a whore in my novel". Or something to that effect. Pretty accurate assessment.
2a) The Truman Capote collection I read also had A Christmas Memory as one of the short stories - and I wanted to make special mention. Read it if you haven't - it is so beautifully written, and so vivid, and funny, and touching, and sweet. Not counting for list.
3) The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum - One of the rare books I liked less than the movie. Though that is probably an unfair comparison, since the movie is almost nothing like the book. That said, I still don't think it was a very good book. It had flashes of brilliance, but I thought it was too slow-paced for a spy novel.
4, 5, 6) Three novels by James M. Cain - Double Indemnity, The Postman Always Rings Twice, and Mildred Pierce - All three were pretty good noir tales. And for the first two I thought the movies tracked closely. Recommended to see both of them if you like film noir. Double Indemnity might be second only to The Maltese Falcon in that genre. I'll see Mildred the movie at some point since Joan Crawford won an Oscar for the title role.
7) Kiss of The Spider Woman by Manuel Puig. Wow! I did not know what to expect when I picked this up on a whim at the library. I was falling behind on #92 - Read Non-English novels. And I'm so glad I was. This is a very, very good novel. Interesting construction - there is no narration or scenic descriptions. It is 90% dialogue, with just dashes indicating change of speaker. It paints an intimate portrait of two men in an Argentinian prison, the revolutionary Valentin and the homosexual Molina. To pass the time Molina recounts old movies he has seen to Valentin. The rest of the time they talk, fight, argue, and bitch about themselves, each other, politics, etc. I know it sounds very "buddy movie" to say at the end they grow to respect one another and appreciate their differences, but it is true, and it comes across in the novel in a surprisingly deep and affecting way.
The 1986 movie (William Hurt - Oscar), which I saw later, was good but not as good as the novel was.
8) The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka - Guy turns into a bug, no one really seems to care, other than how it effects them. Counts for #92 since the original is German. Even Gregor (the bug) is curiously indifferent to why or even how he became a monstrous bug. I wonder what it would be like to know a foreign language well enough to be able to read something without translating it in your head. I can imagine it would be a powerful experience.
9) Rant by Chuck Palahniuk - Another weird novel by the author of Fight Club. Told as an oral history by multiple characters, it is definitely worth the read. Might be worth a second read too since (as in most oral histories), characters conflict on timeline and perceptions. So, going back and trying to figure out what - if anything - is the truth could be worthwhile.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
#95 - The Truth is Sometimes Uncomfortable
Non Fiction to report:Cary Grant: A Biography by Marc Eliot. One of my favorite actors of all time. Evidently he was much gayer than I thought he was. I had heard like it was maybe, but unconfirmed. After reading it is more like they said in Blazing Saddles "you'd do it for Randolph Scott". Well, Grant certainly did.
In the President's Secret Service by Ronald Kessler. A behind the scenes look at the people who protect the president. Dishes some interesting dirt about the past and current residents of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Also makes the case that given the strains on the resources, budget, and people of the Secret Service, a protection failure is inevitable.
The Power of Less by Leo Babauta. Collected writings of Zen Habits Leo. Not much new content but it was easier to read than perusing through the blog archive. I'm attempting to implement the Most Important Task (MIT) / One Goal principle. I think part of my lack of progress on the list is too many areas to focus on. So, concentrating on 3 things for 6 weeks. First up is 1) Be in Bufferland, 2) Visit doctor & dentist, and 3) catch up on this blog. Bufferland also relates to my overall One Goal of being debt free by this time next year.
Scratch Beginnings by Adam Shepard - A sort of "response" to Ehrenreich's Nickel And Dimed which I mentioned in an earlier post. Fresh out of college kid starts out in a new city with $25 and the clothes on his back. He vows to have a job, apartment, car, and $2500 savings within a year. He also places the additional constraints of not using that new degree, previous contacts, or his existing credit history. Well-told, and an object lesson in perseverance.
Born Standing Up by Steve Martin - Autobiography of the "Wild and Crazy Guy" who became a comedy legend in the 70s and then walked away from stand-up a few years later. He's done a few other things since then (plus writing plays, books, and composing). Tells the story of how it took him 10-12 years of hard work to become an overnight sensation. An inspiring story, told with modesty and humor. Occasionally heartbreaking when describing his strained family relationships. Recommended. Also recommended is one of Martin's fiction books The Pleasure of My Company. Doesn't count for this list but it is one of the handful of books I had to read cover to cover in my life.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
#93 - Oscar Update
Been awhile since I posted Oscar progress. In fact 39 movies worth of progress. So, that's a total of 125 watched, with 100 remaining. The grand total of 225 is counting the Oscar winners of 2009 (Crazy Heart, The Hurt Locker, and The Blind Side). I'm in the habit now of one per week, which won't quite get me to my goal. I might downshift the goal a bit to just movies after 1934. That would knock 23 movies off the list, of which I've only heard of a couple before (Grand Hotel and All Quiet on The Western Front), so I might not miss much. That plus a couple film fests should get me pretty close.
Speaking of 1934, the winner that year was It Happened One Night, which swept the Oscars (Actor, Actress, Director, and Picture). One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and The Silence of The Lambs are the only other movies to have done that. All three also won their screenplay categories. I mention because It Happened One Night is the only Oscar winner I've seen not through Netflix since the last posting. So I wanted to mark it down.
Other than noting what a great leading man Clark Gable is, I don't have much else to contribute about the movie. If you are interested in viewing the complete list I published my Google Docs Spreadsheet here. TL was participating in this goal with me but she went and got herself a fiancee and a social life so I've pulled ahead.
Speaking of 1934, the winner that year was It Happened One Night, which swept the Oscars (Actor, Actress, Director, and Picture). One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and The Silence of The Lambs are the only other movies to have done that. All three also won their screenplay categories. I mention because It Happened One Night is the only Oscar winner I've seen not through Netflix since the last posting. So I wanted to mark it down.
Other than noting what a great leading man Clark Gable is, I don't have much else to contribute about the movie. If you are interested in viewing the complete list I published my Google Docs Spreadsheet here. TL was participating in this goal with me but she went and got herself a fiancee and a social life so I've pulled ahead.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
#90 - Plays, Act III
Just a small post to note how well I've done on task #90 - see plays. I've seen 26 plays so far, with my original goal being 25. I've crushed the non-musical portion with 20 plays (goal 15). I still have to do more "modern, arty, freaky". I've seen some out there plays, but only 2 (Nerve and Prodigal) have made me go WTF!
So, I've got some MAF exploring to do. You would have thought murderous, Slim fast drinking lesbians would tip my weird-o-meter but then you never met my mom.
Just Kidding, Mom!
So, I've got some MAF exploring to do. You would have thought murderous, Slim fast drinking lesbians would tip my weird-o-meter but then you never met my mom.
Just Kidding, Mom!
#91 - The Planets
Since the Art Museum hasn't had anything inspiring lately, I'm changing #91 to include the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) as well as St. Louis Art Museum (SLAM) events. The first SLSO event to count was a March 5, 2010 performance of The Planets by Holst. One of my favorite pieces of classical music (especially the opening Mars movement), I had been looking forward to it for a long time. And I was not disappointed. The acoustics in Powell Symphony Hall are excellent (though I'm not that discerning a critic - but they sound good to me). Hearing all the tracks together is a real treat since you start recognizing common themes and how Holst gives each planet its own personality.
The opening number, Violin Concerto by Ligeti, was well-done too. So, 2 for 8 on this one so far. Since I can't find an easy way to embed mp3 after looking for 5 minutes, I'll post the following youtube.
The opening number, Violin Concerto by Ligeti, was well-done too. So, 2 for 8 on this one so far. Since I can't find an easy way to embed mp3 after looking for 5 minutes, I'll post the following youtube.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
#90 - Plays, Act II
#Continuation of plays seen. These are all individual venues, arranged chronologically.
Steel Magnolias at Dramatic License - February 2010 - A three hanky play. The basis for the 1989 movie. Just 6 actresses in one setting (including my favorite Colleen Backer). Talky and sentimental but well-done. I thought the blocking was a little weird sometimes. This was also the first production of Dramatic License Productions (see Doubt in a previous post - Magnolias also had Kim Furlow) at Chesterfield Mall and sometimes you could catch noise from shoppers. Hopefully they get some heavier curtains for the shop front. But I'm looking forward to seeing more there.
Gutenberg! The Musical! at The Ivory Theatre- March 2010 - Comedy about two guys who are staging their new play about Johann Gutenberg for us - their potential "backers". With no cast and crew, they have to wear many hats (literally - quick changing hats with character names - including Anti-Semitic Flower Girl). Trading on all of the Broadway cliches, Bud & Doug do a great play-within-a-play. It is very funny and highly recommended.
This play also made me feel like an expert in St. Louis theater even after only a year of play watching. I injected myself into a conversation with some people wondering about the actors (if they were local, touring, etc.). I was able to be the knowledgeable outsider, and recount the many local productions I had seen with Ben Nordstrom (Bud).
A Doll's House at The Gaslight Theater - April 2010 - A really powerful play about transformation and growth. Well-staged and well-acted. I like the small intimate Gaslight as well.
The One Hour Star Wars Trilogy: Live! at Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre - April (May?) 2010 - Taking a page from the Reduced Shakespeare Company, Magic Smoking Monkey consolidates the epic saga of our time into 1 hour. Hitting the highlights of the first three films (Episodes 4,5,6 - the non Jar-Jar one), the play is obviously crafted by people with a) a deep appreciation of Star Wars and b) not so much they can't laugh at the foibles of the Holy Trilogy. I mean, "Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs", let's just admit Lucas screwed the physics pooch and move on. And, like Galileo, I will say on my deathbed, "Han offa primoris".
Now I Ask You at Muddy Waters Theatre - June 2010 - A lesser-known play by Eugene O'Neill. I suppose you could call it this a drawing room comedy, a farce. It is basically a 1916 sitcom. Allows us to laughs at characters dumber than we are. Enjoyable.
Steel Magnolias at Dramatic License - February 2010 - A three hanky play. The basis for the 1989 movie. Just 6 actresses in one setting (including my favorite Colleen Backer). Talky and sentimental but well-done. I thought the blocking was a little weird sometimes. This was also the first production of Dramatic License Productions (see Doubt in a previous post - Magnolias also had Kim Furlow) at Chesterfield Mall and sometimes you could catch noise from shoppers. Hopefully they get some heavier curtains for the shop front. But I'm looking forward to seeing more there.Gutenberg! The Musical! at The Ivory Theatre- March 2010 - Comedy about two guys who are staging their new play about Johann Gutenberg for us - their potential "backers". With no cast and crew, they have to wear many hats (literally - quick changing hats with character names - including Anti-Semitic Flower Girl). Trading on all of the Broadway cliches, Bud & Doug do a great play-within-a-play. It is very funny and highly recommended.
This play also made me feel like an expert in St. Louis theater even after only a year of play watching. I injected myself into a conversation with some people wondering about the actors (if they were local, touring, etc.). I was able to be the knowledgeable outsider, and recount the many local productions I had seen with Ben Nordstrom (Bud).
A Doll's House at The Gaslight Theater - April 2010 - A really powerful play about transformation and growth. Well-staged and well-acted. I like the small intimate Gaslight as well.
The One Hour Star Wars Trilogy: Live! at Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre - April (May?) 2010 - Taking a page from the Reduced Shakespeare Company, Magic Smoking Monkey consolidates the epic saga of our time into 1 hour. Hitting the highlights of the first three films (Episodes 4,5,6 - the non Jar-Jar one), the play is obviously crafted by people with a) a deep appreciation of Star Wars and b) not so much they can't laugh at the foibles of the Holy Trilogy. I mean, "Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs", let's just admit Lucas screwed the physics pooch and move on. And, like Galileo, I will say on my deathbed, "Han offa primoris".
Young Frankenstein at The Fox - May 2010 - A lavish Broadway musical. Based on the hilarious 1974 Mel Brooks film with Gene Wilder. Since I loved the movie I liked the show, and it had some good if not memorable songs. I can see why some critics might not have liked it. And maybe I wouldn't see it again. Perhaps Brooks is trading on our love of the original. But then so is much of Broadway these days (Legally Blonde: The Musical - seriously?).
Now I Ask You at Muddy Waters Theatre - June 2010 - A lesser-known play by Eugene O'Neill. I suppose you could call it this a drawing room comedy, a farce. It is basically a 1916 sitcom. Allows us to laughs at characters dumber than we are. Enjoyable.
#90 - Plays, Act I
Play Round-up since the last time I did this. By venue, then chronological.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Sleuth (Mainstage) - October 2010 - This is the definition of a cat-and-mouse game. Twists galore, never quite sure which of the two main characters is the cat and which the mouse. Well-done.
The 39 Steps (Mainstage) - January 2010 - Based on a Hitchcock film, and while not a great play in terms of the standard spy chase plot, it is played for laughs so it isn't noticeable. It did have a nice concept in that only 4 actors play all 20 or so roles in the play. And when you consider the hero only does one role, and the woman does just the three heroine and/or femme fatale roles, that leaves two characters playing about 15 assorted cops, criminals, innkeepers, and random passers-by. So, it was entertaining to watch.
Crime and Punishment (Studio) - March 2010 - Wow! And I thought The 39 Steps was stripped down. This is Dostoevsky's sprawling novel (which I gave up on after 50 pages), reduced to 3 actors. And man, does it work. Again, multiple characters per actor. Great lighting work and staging. The atmosphere and mood are almost soul crushing. Placing you really inside the mind of a murderer. This is intense theater.
Echo Theatre
Secretaries - October 2009 - The play about a "murderous cult of Slim Fast drinking female office workers" which I alluded to in an earlier post. Offbeat, amusing, and a little violent.
Fugitive Songs - November 2009 - "This innovative musical journey spotlights people on the run: a disgruntled Subway sandwich employee, a jilted ex-cheerleader, a pair of Patty Hearst fanatics, a stoner forced to rob a convenience store against his will, and many others. Blending traditional folk music with contemporary pop and gospel, Fugitive Songs offers a new sound for a restless America." Good songs: some funny, some poignant, all say something about America circa now.
Santaland Diaries - December 2009 - Working as an elf at Macy's teaches you the true meaning of Christmas. Funny.
Hot City
The Eight: Reindeer Monologues - December 2009 - Santa is accused of sexual harassing a reindeer. The 8 members of the sleigh team give their points of view. Was Vixen asking for it? Has it happened before? Amazingly does not qualify as "modern, arty, freaky". Seen one gay reindeer, seen them all.
Why Torture is Wrong, and the People who Love Them - February 2010 - Ever have one of those days? You wake up hung over, married to a strange guy who may or may not be a terrorist. So you take him home to meet your oblivious mother, and your father who may or may not be a CIA agent. Add a little torture in the study and your husband planting a remote bomb in your childhood home. Plus a porno-making minister. Bad day for you, fun for the audience.
The Sinker - May 2010 - Winner of last year's Greenhouse New Play festival. World premiere of the play. Very nice and I'm not talking about the thong shot of one of the actresses that opens the play. Well, not exclusively. A very minimalist play. 3 actors - and all the action and dialogue revolves around the unseen 4th, and the very complicated relationship that all 3 have with him.
Stray Dog Theatre
Speech & Debate - February 2010 - Cute little play about 3 outsider teenagers tied together by a sex scandal in their high school. Darkly funny, smart, and entertaining. I like the Tower Grove Abbey space that Stray Dog occupies.
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds - March 2010 - Well done, but a total downer of a play. Follows Chekov's loaded gun rule but uses a live rabbit, which was a bit disturbing.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Sleuth (Mainstage) - October 2010 - This is the definition of a cat-and-mouse game. Twists galore, never quite sure which of the two main characters is the cat and which the mouse. Well-done.
The 39 Steps (Mainstage) - January 2010 - Based on a Hitchcock film, and while not a great play in terms of the standard spy chase plot, it is played for laughs so it isn't noticeable. It did have a nice concept in that only 4 actors play all 20 or so roles in the play. And when you consider the hero only does one role, and the woman does just the three heroine and/or femme fatale roles, that leaves two characters playing about 15 assorted cops, criminals, innkeepers, and random passers-by. So, it was entertaining to watch.
Crime and Punishment (Studio) - March 2010 - Wow! And I thought The 39 Steps was stripped down. This is Dostoevsky's sprawling novel (which I gave up on after 50 pages), reduced to 3 actors. And man, does it work. Again, multiple characters per actor. Great lighting work and staging. The atmosphere and mood are almost soul crushing. Placing you really inside the mind of a murderer. This is intense theater.
Echo Theatre
Secretaries - October 2009 - The play about a "murderous cult of Slim Fast drinking female office workers" which I alluded to in an earlier post. Offbeat, amusing, and a little violent.
Fugitive Songs - November 2009 - "This innovative musical journey spotlights people on the run: a disgruntled Subway sandwich employee, a jilted ex-cheerleader, a pair of Patty Hearst fanatics, a stoner forced to rob a convenience store against his will, and many others. Blending traditional folk music with contemporary pop and gospel, Fugitive Songs offers a new sound for a restless America." Good songs: some funny, some poignant, all say something about America circa now.
Santaland Diaries - December 2009 - Working as an elf at Macy's teaches you the true meaning of Christmas. Funny.
Hot City
The Eight: Reindeer Monologues - December 2009 - Santa is accused of sexual harassing a reindeer. The 8 members of the sleigh team give their points of view. Was Vixen asking for it? Has it happened before? Amazingly does not qualify as "modern, arty, freaky". Seen one gay reindeer, seen them all.
Why Torture is Wrong, and the People who Love Them - February 2010 - Ever have one of those days? You wake up hung over, married to a strange guy who may or may not be a terrorist. So you take him home to meet your oblivious mother, and your father who may or may not be a CIA agent. Add a little torture in the study and your husband planting a remote bomb in your childhood home. Plus a porno-making minister. Bad day for you, fun for the audience.
The Sinker - May 2010 - Winner of last year's Greenhouse New Play festival. World premiere of the play. Very nice and I'm not talking about the thong shot of one of the actresses that opens the play. Well, not exclusively. A very minimalist play. 3 actors - and all the action and dialogue revolves around the unseen 4th, and the very complicated relationship that all 3 have with him.
Stray Dog Theatre
Speech & Debate - February 2010 - Cute little play about 3 outsider teenagers tied together by a sex scandal in their high school. Darkly funny, smart, and entertaining. I like the Tower Grove Abbey space that Stray Dog occupies.
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds - March 2010 - Well done, but a total downer of a play. Follows Chekov's loaded gun rule but uses a live rabbit, which was a bit disturbing.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
#89 - Belly up to the Bard
A couple of Shakespeare plays to note. Since it is summertime, it was again Shakespeare in The Park. It was the tenth anniversary so they trotted out Hamlet. Ghosts, treachery, incest, suicide, wholesale slaughter - what a bore. Of course, I'm kidding. As always the play, performance, and setting in Shakespeare Glen of Forest Park was a good time.
So, that makes 8 out of 10 park performances I've attended. I missed As You Like It in 2004. My only other miss was the first year, Romeo and Juliet. Which I saw back in February at The Black Rep. Another fine show. It was interesting. The mostly black cast gave the play a bit of a different spin. I thought the Motown song and dance numbers during the Capulet party in Act I were a nice touch. The more that I see various versions of the play, the more I'm convinced that the play doesn't work without a good Mercutio. He really is the lynchpin behind all the action of the play. Without Mercutio, Romeo and Juliet just have standard teenage problems. This production had a good Mercutio in Chauncy Thomas.
So, that's 3 Shakespeare of 5. With next year's festival (The Taming of the Shrew) and one more pick-up, this task will be "bitch-slapped like a cheap hooker at a gangbang". To quote the Bard. Ok, not quite. But still, you get my point.
So, that makes 8 out of 10 park performances I've attended. I missed As You Like It in 2004. My only other miss was the first year, Romeo and Juliet. Which I saw back in February at The Black Rep. Another fine show. It was interesting. The mostly black cast gave the play a bit of a different spin. I thought the Motown song and dance numbers during the Capulet party in Act I were a nice touch. The more that I see various versions of the play, the more I'm convinced that the play doesn't work without a good Mercutio. He really is the lynchpin behind all the action of the play. Without Mercutio, Romeo and Juliet just have standard teenage problems. This production had a good Mercutio in Chauncy Thomas.
So, that's 3 Shakespeare of 5. With next year's festival (The Taming of the Shrew) and one more pick-up, this task will be "bitch-slapped like a cheap hooker at a gangbang". To quote the Bard. Ok, not quite. But still, you get my point.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
#100 - Netflix - Red Envelope Love
Been a bit since my last Netflix update. Doing pretty well in getting the movies in and out. No more of my multi-month holding onto the discs. Last check of FeedFliks was $1.42 per movie. Not too bad.
Not watching TV (about 6 months free as of this post) helps a great deal.
Given the length of time I won't post a complete list but hit the highlights:
Finally watched Clint Eastwood's "Man With No Name" trilogy. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly is now firmly in my Top 20 favorite films. Eli Wallach is one of the most underrated actors of all time. Great score and brilliantly shot and edited - especially the climatic standoff (spoiler alert):
The only other movie I gave 5 stars to was Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog which just more awesomeness from Joss Whedon. Stars Neil Patrick Harris as a wanna-be superhero, and Nathan Fillion (Mal on Firefly - another Whedon awesomeness fest) as his nemesis - Captain Hammer. And Felicia Day is their common love interest.
Ever so funny - there are several lines that just crack me up. And there is singing - good singing - but hilarious.
A small taste:
I've watched 49 movies since Election, including 6 foreign films which I'll post separately. Grand total is 110. Again totally off pace but not ready to concede defeat.
Not watching TV (about 6 months free as of this post) helps a great deal.
Given the length of time I won't post a complete list but hit the highlights:
Finally watched Clint Eastwood's "Man With No Name" trilogy. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly is now firmly in my Top 20 favorite films. Eli Wallach is one of the most underrated actors of all time. Great score and brilliantly shot and edited - especially the climatic standoff (spoiler alert):
The only other movie I gave 5 stars to was Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog which just more awesomeness from Joss Whedon. Stars Neil Patrick Harris as a wanna-be superhero, and Nathan Fillion (Mal on Firefly - another Whedon awesomeness fest) as his nemesis - Captain Hammer. And Felicia Day is their common love interest.
Ever so funny - there are several lines that just crack me up. And there is singing - good singing - but hilarious.
A small taste:
I've watched 49 movies since Election, including 6 foreign films which I'll post separately. Grand total is 110. Again totally off pace but not ready to concede defeat.
#28 - Broken Windows Theory
Quick post to declare #28 completed. Finally got around to fixing the windshield of my car - and as typical of things that I put off / decide to just live with - fixing it was much easier than I thought. Well, easy for the good people at Glass Doctor - I did no actual work other than read a magazine in the waiting room.
Though a small victory, it does show me how just taking care of things as they arise is a better philosophy most times than simply living with it. I see this a lot with my job as a programmer. Nothing degrades a computer application faster than a "quick hack" mentality. Each hack - easily justifiable on its own because of time / cost / ease of implementation - makes the next even uglier hack even easier to justify. The code is already crappy what's one more mess? Jeff Atwood has a compelling and eloquent article on the subject here.
I think one point of this list is to fix some of the "broken windows" in my life. I know I feel more motivated when I'm working ahead of my schedule, but if I'm behind on some task (like cleaning) - it is that much easier to let it slide further. To tell myself I'll attack it all at once - which leads to entire weekends of housekeeping rather than the hiking I would have enjoyed so much more.
Anyway, I feel a sense of wholeness when I look at my intact windshield. And that's a positive thing.
Though a small victory, it does show me how just taking care of things as they arise is a better philosophy most times than simply living with it. I see this a lot with my job as a programmer. Nothing degrades a computer application faster than a "quick hack" mentality. Each hack - easily justifiable on its own because of time / cost / ease of implementation - makes the next even uglier hack even easier to justify. The code is already crappy what's one more mess? Jeff Atwood has a compelling and eloquent article on the subject here.
I think one point of this list is to fix some of the "broken windows" in my life. I know I feel more motivated when I'm working ahead of my schedule, but if I'm behind on some task (like cleaning) - it is that much easier to let it slide further. To tell myself I'll attack it all at once - which leads to entire weekends of housekeeping rather than the hiking I would have enjoyed so much more.
Anyway, I feel a sense of wholeness when I look at my intact windshield. And that's a positive thing.
#86 - Grandma's Potato Salad II: Christmas Edition
Back in December for the office Christmas party I made my second attempt at my Grandmother's potato salad. You can read about my first successful attempt here.
This second go-around was a lot less complicated since I got a bunch of really nice pots - including an 8 qt stockpot - for my birthday. So, I was able to boil the 5 lbs of potatoes in one fell swoop. I'm still a slow chopper but I had gained a lot of confidence since the last time and there wasn't as much minute by minute worrying this time. I was in the potato salad zone.
I'm pleased to report that this time the finished product tasted much closer to true even before setting up than the previous batch. Unfortunately not many people tried it at the party. So I had a bunch left-over - so I was able topig out effectively deal with the situation.
It passed the parents' taste test too - so 2 for 2 on potato salad with one attempt remaining.
This second go-around was a lot less complicated since I got a bunch of really nice pots - including an 8 qt stockpot - for my birthday. So, I was able to boil the 5 lbs of potatoes in one fell swoop. I'm still a slow chopper but I had gained a lot of confidence since the last time and there wasn't as much minute by minute worrying this time. I was in the potato salad zone.
I'm pleased to report that this time the finished product tasted much closer to true even before setting up than the previous batch. Unfortunately not many people tried it at the party. So I had a bunch left-over - so I was able to
It passed the parents' taste test too - so 2 for 2 on potato salad with one attempt remaining.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Fact and Fiction - Reading Roundup
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A quick review of books I've read since the last update.Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - I had no idea how far off the movies and by extension the cultural image of Frankenstein was from the original source. It is much more of a God / Man allegory than a "monster" story. And the creature is the book is certainly not dumb (in multiple senses of the word). And Frankenstein is less a mad scientist and more a bad parent.
The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon - Weird ass book. Has Oedipa Maas discovered a centuries old conspiracy theory? Is she the victim of an elaborate practical joke? Is she finding meaning where there is none? Is she just not looking hard enough? Should she even bother looking at all?
Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie - This was really good. I always like Hercule Poirot, he is the kind of detective I envision myself being if I was actually good at figuring murders out. And unlike a few other Christie novels it doesn't rely on the sudden reveal that Person X is actually the brother/sister/mother/father of Person Y and therefore the culprit. Nor is some other hidden past transgression is dredged up - out of thin air. No, this is a straight forward love triangle where Linnet steals Simon from Jackie and Jackie stalks them. Linnet is murdered, Jackie would be blamed except for her alibi - being "in custody" after shooting and wounding Simon. So, whodunit?
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson - Good ghost story, well-written.
The Joy of Simple Living by Jeff Davidson - I was hoping for more out of this book then a simple collection of tips most of which are repeated verbatim on the personal finance and productivity blogs which recommend this book.
Making It All Work by David Allen - Much better than Ready for Anything which I reviewed previously. Whereas Getting Things Done was an in the trenches book for dealing with the day to day realities of productivity, Making It All Work is focused on the higher levels - "the vision thing" so to speak. Though his underlying "captain and commander" metaphor is rather lame, the ideas Allen presents on 
getting both control and perspective are instructive. Having semi-successfully implemented GTD in my personal life, I still occasionally feel that I am efficiently doing ineffective tasks - sure I check off a lot of tasks but do those tasks really matter? Do they get me to my goals? Do I have goals? I have this list - but how is this list progressing? Updates on that to come. Hint: I may have to read this book again.
getting both control and perspective are instructive. Having semi-successfully implemented GTD in my personal life, I still occasionally feel that I am efficiently doing ineffective tasks - sure I check off a lot of tasks but do those tasks really matter? Do they get me to my goals? Do I have goals? I have this list - but how is this list progressing? Updates on that to come. Hint: I may have to read this book again.Misery by Stephen King - Prior to watching the Academy Award winning movie, read the book.
Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich - Subtitled On (Not) Getting By in America, Ehrenreich takes three different minimum wage jobs in three different cities to illustrate the vast gulf between minimum wage and living wage. The book also demonstrates how just having a job won't automagically lift someone from poverty - there remain problems of transportation, childcare, health care, etc. On the whole I thought it was fair and balanced.
Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut - Second-Tier Vonnegut but it has its moments.
Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert - Though interesting in explaining why people are unhappy (mostly because they cannot accurately describe what will make them happy in the future), I thought the book fell down because it didn't give many suggestions for how to overcome this lack of imagination. I felt that Gilbert thought this was an intractable problem.
The Summons by John Grisham - Not quite The Firm or The Client but entertaining.
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