Sunday, January 31, 2010

When in Rome

It may seem that all I go see are chick flicks but it is just chick flick season gearing up for Valentines Day. In reality I am an action/suspense film goer. I mean one of my favorite films last year was Taken. How many girls can say that?

When in Rome. It was what I expected and little bit more-- all the funny parts in the film were not in the trailer (surprise). I would class it more as a comedy in the romantic comedy genre because you really were not focused on the love story as much as getting laughs. Needed polishing but worth the watch when your library purchases the DVD and you can see it for free (maybe even Redbox worthy).

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Sundance Film Festival

Last night AJ, AMM and I went to the Sundance Film Festival up in Park City. This has been my fourth year attending the event. This year my ticket purchase time was not the best so we ended up getting our 8th choice. First you have to be selective of what you really can watch at Sundance since the films tend to be edgier (to put it mildly) and there is no rating on them so you have to go by clues in the synopsis if it will be “clean enough”. Then it is battle over finding a time that fits everyone’s schedule. In the end I was not disappointed in film of our choice “Kick in Iran.” This is the synopsis from Sundance Film Guide:

“Sarah Khoshjamal, a 20-year-old Taekwondo superstar, is the first female professional athlete from Iran to qualify for the Olympics. This skillful vérité portrait follows the unassuming Khoshjamal in the nine months leading up to the 2008 Beijing games. Living in an Islamic country, she is required to wear a hijab at all times and, unlike her fellow competitors around the world, cannot train with men; however, the power in her fighting resoundingly breaks down stereotypical barriers.”

A very interesting documentary that made for a good Q and A afterwards with the director and film staff (the perk of going to Sundance is to hear from the film makers). I just wish it had tighter editing, less random shots and not letting the camera linger too long after the person is finished talking.

Kudos to the Park City Sundance Shuttle system this year. They have worked out a lot their kinks and it ran smoothly with lots of volunteers helping to direct which bus to go on. Did you know they now charge $20 to park your car up there? Luckily in the outskirts they had a designated shuttle stop at an LDS church parking lot that was free. I wonder where we parked.

The only complaint I had was that it was snowing up in the canyons so I was driving probably too slow for everyone. I blame it on my growing up that when it snows you have snow days and you don’t drive in it. Plus Provo canyon can be pretty dangerous in the winter, I have seen the newspapers.

No celebrity sighting to report this year.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Fireflies

This morning my alarm went off to Fireflies by Owl City. Don’t get me wrong, I use to enjoy the song, mainly because it reminds me of the group Postal Service who I love (you know them you just didn’t realize that was there name). I just think it is on the radio a little too much. I know I am probably one of the few people who still actually listens to the radio but literally that song either wakes me up in the morning, or is playing during my commute to and from work. That is overkill.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Boston Trip

Boston January 13-18, 2010

Every year two of my coworker friends (AJ and AMM) and I take a small trip in Jan/Feb since that is when we can get off work since summer is a busy time at the library. This year we went to Boston. I have always wanted to go even though I lived so close for 6 ½ years when I lived in Pennsylvania and Maryland but never got around to it. Luckily the weather behaved for us and it was enjoyable.

Some background info you will need to know is that this year American Library Association Midwinter meeting was in Boston. That is when librarians throughout the United States come for training and getting a sneak peek of upcoming title and product releases. We hadn’t realized we would be there the same time when we first scheduled but it ended up being a plus.

And now for my adventure:

Day 1

We start the day off early, my favorite time of the day (yeah right). At the airport we run into our Library Director who is also on our flight because he is attending ALA since he is on the Caldecott committee (those who pick the best picture book for the year). We have a direct flight into Boston Logan Airport and we carried on our luggage since we refuse to pay for luggage. I have to admit I was proud that I could fit my winter clothes in a carry on.

The Boston Logan Airport is literally on the water, which makes sense since where is there room to place it anywhere else. After we arrive we hang around the airport because we have to purchase our Sundance Film Festival tickets (you enter a lottery for a time when you can purchase tickets and my time was ½ hr after we landed). So we got our tickets (8th film choice, but hey we have tickets!) and our adventure begins.

We purchased a subway pass for the week and that is how we moved about the city. If it were not for AJ I would probably still be at the airport. She is amazing navigating the cities and organizing our trips. Our hotel was literally right next to the Celtics Garden. If only Larry Bird was still playing I would have dragged my friends to attend a game.

After we checked in we found dinner (rule of the trip no restaurants that we can eat back in UT) and headed to the Chicago Museum of Art where they had a discount night and we walked around for about 2 hours. Saw an exhibit from Egypt’s Tomb 10A which was cool.

Day 2

Awoke early and headed to the Museum of Science and Technology where they had a special Harry Potter Exhibit. I’m not a fan of the books or films (I have only read the 1st book and seen 2 of the films because of nephews) but it was pretty cool because it was film props and such and I like anything that deals with film. My nephews would have loved it. We then played around with other science exhibits in the museum.

Then we headed to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. I really loved it because the building it as an enclosed garden courtyard that sets the mood. Plus the eccentric founder lady left the museum in her will as long as they never changed how she arranged the pictures and furniture nor add new. It’s funny because a few paintings were stolen a few years back but they have to keep the empty frames up because of the will.

After that we headed back to the Boston Museum of Art to finish up the rest museum. I accidentally broke one of the handles off one of the inner glass doors. Very embrassing and very loud. The security guard came running but said not to worry. Then we toured the Old Trinity Church and then to the Boston Public Library (we're librarians remember). The Boston Public Library is amazing. It has painted murals on the walls and ceilings, statues and marble throughout.

Day 3

We walked the Freedom Trail. Though it is 2.5 miles we started off at 9 in the morning and concluded around 4 pm. We were on our feet the entire time. We toured Massachusetts State capital. They have a wooden fish hanging in the House of Reps chamber called the “Sacred Cod” to help remind them of the fishing industry and they have another fish in the Senate chambers “Holy Mackerel” for the same reason. It was just so silly I had to mention it. Funnier still that in the 50s a few Harvard students stole it as a prank for a week and no bills were passed during that time because they were superstitious.

We walked through the Boston Common, cemeteries of famous people, toured Paul Revere’s home, Old North Church (where Paul Revere’s lanterns hung), and many more interesting stops along the way ending at the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides). We caught the ferry and headed back into the city.

We then headed to ALA exhibit hall. We were able to get some free passes for the exhibit from one of main book vendors for the library (thank you Baker and Taylor) and there we had at it and gathered loads of free ARC (advance reading copies) books that have not been published nor finished being proofed. I must say I am looking forward to reading some of them. So we got all loaded up I alone had four bags of books and we head to the post office section of the exhibit and they are not open. So we had to haul our load back on the subway. It was an adventure. We were sore the next day.

Day 4

Today was AMM birthday and we celebrated by going to Salem.

But first we had to mail all the books we got since there was no way we could take them back on the plane. So we carried them to the post office. Boxing them was an adventure in itself because one box was too heavy and we had reboxed everything. But in the end it was done and I know the post office worker was glad to see us go.

I really wanted to go to Salem so we took the train out there. First went to the Peabody Art Museum. Then we headed to the Salem Witch Museum and got the background to the Salem Witch Trials. Afterwards we ate a local diner and took in the true small town culture (reminded me of PA). Then we toured The House of Seven Gables (the house that inspired the book with the same name by Nathaniel Hawthorne). I loved the house especially because there was a secret passage and they let us go up it to the attic. You know how many tours I have been on and they say cool things like secret passages but don’t let you see and finally I was able to experience it first hand. We ended Salem early so we went back to Boston to go up the Prudential Skywalk were you get a panoramic view of the city. Pretty impressive. Then we headed back to the ALA convention to a Recorded Books event (they produce books on CD) and they brought in one of my favorite narrators Barbara Rosenblatt to speak so that was fun. Then dinner at a restaurant called Firefly. They had really good sweet potato French fries. Oh, on the bus we saw Nancy Pearl (famed librarian that writes books and even has an action figure, I have one if you ever want to see it).

Day 5

Sunday so we headed to the Episcopal Divinity School just outside of Harvard where we attended LDS services. Yes, you heard me correctly. The LDS church burned down a while back and they are still working on it so we had Sacrament meeting in a chapel with a huge cross and stained glass widows. It reminded me when I lived in MD and we attended the Harford Jewish Center for our church services while they remodeled our building.

Afterwards we changed clothes and toured Harvard campus. Quite impressive. They have this archway in one of the building that you can whisper into the wall on one side and the person on the other side can hear you and it sounds like it is coming out of the wall. Way cool.

We then headed to the Institute of Contemporary Art and wandered about. Headed back to the ALA exhibit for more free books and then called it an early day getting back around 7:30 pm tired.

Day 6

Last day. We had a true Boston winter day. It was snowing and cold. Went back to ALA to pick up more free books and mail off our second batch of books.

Then we went to the JFK Library and Museum. I am not a fan of the man nor his family but the museum was still very interesting. We broke the no chain restaurant rule for lunch because we didn’t want to trudge through the snow and went back to our hotel for our luggage and headed off to the airport early. We didn’t want last year’s incident of us running through the airport barely catching our plane.

We ended up hanging out at the airport longer because of delays and then had to wait an hour on the plane before take off for a minor repair. Then we landed in SLC and I had my own big bed to sleep in that night!

So that was my Boston trip. No funny adventures like last years Chicago, but I still had a wonderful time and glad I went. And for next year’s trip----we still have a few places to narrow it down to.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Just Another Day At Work

In my profession I have been asked many interesting questions. Today was one of those over the tops. I helped a patron propose to his girlfriend. Yep. You never know what you are going to be asked. Her favorite place is the library and her grandfather use to work here way back when so that is why he picked this place. So he gave us flowers to put out and a note and then when she finished reading it I had to approach her that we had something on hold for at the information desk (I felt like a stalker peeking through bookshelves to see when it was my cue). I then brought her to my desk and there we had her dream wedding dress waiting for her. Yeah, it was a bit embarrassing sharing in the private moment (as private as it can be in a public place). She was crying, he got down on one knee and gave her the ring. She said yes by the way.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Leap Year

Leap Year- the film, not the day. A few friends of mine and I went and saw it last night. It had what every romantic comedy should have: a handsome leading man- Matthew Goode (who lives up to his last name), a beautiful setting (Ireland. It made me home sick for it not that I am from there, but I went there 2 years ago and it was amazing), and a leading lady you wish you could be mainly because you want the leading man. It's not Oscar worthy and that is not why you go see the film. It is escapism. Did I mention that Matthew Goode was in the film? Tall, dark hair, gorgeous eyes, (yep, my favorites in a man). So his Irish accent was not authentic, and I really wanted give him a shave, but still, a very enjoyable film with a good foot tapping soundtrack.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Elvis

Today, Elvis Presley would have turned 75. He has been dead for 32 years yet everyone knows who he is. Now that is a music legend. You may be asking yourself, why would I be posting about Elvis? Well, before there was John Wayne in my life, there was Elvis. It started when I was in 3rd grade (7 years old) and lasted through 6th grade. I still love his music and enjoy his films I just don’t have a picture of him hanging on my wall. At times I really think I was born in the wrong era, but lucky for me I was not because wearing a dress everyday would have killed me. I only like Elvis when he was young and handsome, before the years of drugs and fame dragged him down. Every year in honor of him I watch one of his films for his birthday- mainly Blue Hawaii my personal favorite. Yes, it is fluffy but seeing Angela Lansbury (Murder She Wrote) play his mom is worth it even if you don’t like him. Plus the film has a great soundtrack that even you would recognize. G.I. Blues is a pretty good film as well—young Elvis in a uniform, need I say more?

Happy 75th Elvis!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Dr Who

Yes, I am a nerd. I love watching Dr. Who (and living in a basement has nothing to do with it either). I should say I love watching David Tennant play Dr. Who. When I was a child and my father would watch the old Dr. Who episodes and I saw a man with crazy hair fighting aliens that look like they were created out of materials from the janitors closet, I thought I would never sit down to an episode. Then one day my sister was watching the episode “The Girl in the Fireplace” and I saw this quirky man in a sharp stripped suit and converse sneakers and my entire opinion of the show changed. I started watching Dr. Who every Saturday night on PBS.

The show still has the British feel like you are on set and I still laugh at some of the aliens but there are some great episodes. My favorite is “Blink.” Watch it late at night and you will never look at a statue a same way again. Another good one is “The Shakespeare Code” when the Dr travels back in time and meets Shakespeare. The show was perfect for Tennant since he was in the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Then this past Saturday night, David Tennant said farewell to his role of Dr. Who. The episode was touching. It brought tears to eyes (and if you know me that is a feat.) His final words of “I don’t want to go” says it all. But as you know the Dr. can regenerate and so we have a new guy to follow in the adventures, but I thought the way they wrote the script as if the Dr. was dying since he was leaving one life behind made it seem more real and acceptable and not just having a new face.

I won’t say anymore because I don’t want to share spoilers. But I have to put in a bit for Timothy Dalton who did a perfect job as the ruler of the Time Lords. And I loved the Star Wars feel in two scenes and when you see it, you will know what I mean you can not miss them.

Good luck to Tennant on his new adventures.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Welcome to My Blog

Yes, it is amazing that I would have a blog and this is why. I have a friend that I always email my thoughts on film and life with, and when John Hughes passed away in August and I emailed her my tribute of him to her she said that I have to really get a blog and so I created one. I just never posted to it until now. I just want to remind you that I am not eloquent in my writing style. Even though English is my 1st (and only) language, I can assure you that I will make many grammar mistakes. As I probably already have.