Robert Culp

Yesterday the actor Robert Culp passed away and it made me think of my childhood and how I loved watching The Greatest American Hero. You remember the series of the man who is given the red suit that gives him superhuman powers by aliens but he lost the instruction manual so he is really bad at flying? Culp played the FBI agent Bill Maxwell who helps Ralph Hinckley (played by William Katt) with his magic red suit fight the bad guys. Culp also starred in the original I Spy series with Bill Cosby and made numerous of television appearances on shows like Columbo. He was a true television icon and will be missed.

Remember Me

Ok, I will admit that I actually wanted to go see the film Remember Me to see Robert Pattinson without his pasty white make up and brooding vampire behavior. Plus Pierce Bronsan is always a plus. I just didn’t realize the film was going to be so depressing. It really is about a messed up family overcoming a terrible tragedy that ends in another terrible tragedy. It had a Sundance film feel to me, a bit rough on the edges. Better editing and cleaning up the language a bit would have made it more enjoyable especially Tate Ellington character who I would have loved more if they had. I decided to liken Pattinson’s character and look to Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock. Don’t laugh. They share the same hair, attitude and temperament. I did like that they casted Martha Plimpton (Goonies fame) as Ally’s mother. I don’t know if in the end it was worth missing out on the BYU men’s basketball game but I will tell you what I did learn from the film:

1. Eat dessert first.
2. Be grateful for my family.
3. “Gandhi said that whatever you do in life will be insignificant. But it's very important that you do it. I tend to agree with the first part.”

In conjunction with the quote mentioned above, the film did make me ponder if I have done anything significant in my life to be remembered by.

Beginning of March Madness

What a perfect day of not having to go into work today. BYU men’s basketball won over the Gators in second overtime no less! Can I just say I love the way Jimmer plays basketball? Lloyd was on fire today as well. In fact the team as a whole has done an awesome job this entire season and today proved it. They can go deep on the bench and still play strong. Go cougars and good luck!

Now Playing

Lately I have been in the mood of the louder the better. That is probably why for the past few months Airborn Toxic Event’s self titled CD has become my favorite and most listened to. Now if they will only come to Utah and perform I would be very happy. Below are some songs that I keep playing over and over. Usually I just check out whatever group I am interested in listening to out of the library and after three weeks I get the songs out of my system, but these have hung on. After checking out Airbron Toxic Event for the third time, I decided that I just needed to go buy it.

Airborn Toxic Event- Sometime Around Midnight (or practically any song on their album)

Snow Patrol- Just Say Yes (Up to Now album has all my favorites) *

MGMT- Time to Pretend

Neon Trees- Animal (my new favorite song)

The Killers- Human (I love their Day and Age album) *

Sea Wolf- The Violet Hour

Coldplay- Viva La Vida *

Keane- Everybody’s Changing and Somewhere Only We Know *

Muse- Uprising and Resistance

Pink- Please Don’t Leave Me (she surprised me, usually I do not like women singers, but her album Funhouse has about four songs I like)

Lily Allen- The Fear

Letters to Cleo- I Want You to Want Me

The Cure- In Between Days, Cut Here, Close to Me (and many more)*

Postal Service- Such Great Heights

Modest Mouse- Float On

Franz Ferdinand- Take Me Out

For my nostalgic moments I listen to Dino: the Essential Dean Martin album and Frank Sinatra’s Nothing but the Best. I can be listening to one Muse song and switch to Sinatra for the next. My brain just works that way. Funny I know.

*-indicates that I have seen them perform in concert

The Italian Girl in Algiers

At least once a year I try to go see an opera since the tickets only cost $15. I do not like the long dramas of the person laminting that they have lost their love. I enjoy the romantic comedies where I am guaranteed to laugh (though my favorite opera song is “Nessun Dorma” from Turnadot sung by Pavarotti which would not fall into that catergory, but then again I have never seen the opera).

Last night I went and saw The Italian Girl in Algiers. This is the write up from Utah Opera:

If you enjoyed Utah Opera’s recent productions of The Barber of Seville and Cinderella, Gioacchino Rossini’s hilarious opera, The Italian Girl in Algiers, will delight you with a comic stumble of a shipwreck, missing lovers, jealous wives, and meddling servants. Rossini's energetic melodies and hilarious characters will have you laughing from curtain up to curtain down.

I did laugh, I did enjoy the production and I think way worth the ticket price. Impress someone and invite them to the opera it will be something they will always remember.

Primary

So for twelve weeks I have been asked to substitute in Primary during opening exercise while the teachers of the four year old class go to Teacher Development. One week down and I do not know how I am going to make it for the next eleven. Don’t get me wrong. I love kids, especially my nephews; it’s just that I have not been in Primary since I was in Primary. I may have substituted three times over the years but all my callings have been with teenagers (which I feel the most comfortable working with) and adults.

The four year olds have so much energy. I have six boys and sitting in the middle does not help the ones on the end behave. Luckily my arms do reach to tap their shoulders to have them sit back down in their seats to their dismay. I also feel like I am on display. I can see their mothers in the Primary Presidency looking at me and thinking, why did we ask her? Actually the Bishopric suggested my name to them since I do not have “other responsibilities” (I already have two callings, that is their way of saying, she is not married have her do it). It would be better to substitute during the class period time when I can feel more relaxed because being quiet is not really emphasized, then have their behavior on display for all to see during opening exercise.

Richard Peck

Tuesday night I had an opportunity to hear the Newberry Award winner author Richard Peck speak at my library. He has written over 30 books, so hopefully you have taken the opportunity to pick one up in your life time. I would recommend A Long Way from Chicago, probably my favorite book of his. Mainly because it made me laugh with his over the top characters yet still deal with everyday problems.

Mr. Peck was so funny in person, not just in his writing. He is to date my favorite author I have heard speak and being a librarian I have had many opportunities to hear quite a few. He hit home some very true points and I wish I had taken notes to share because he did inspire me to be I don’t know, be a better person, more like be the best you. So if you ever have a chance, hear him speak.