One of my very favorite movies of all time is Amadeus, starring Tom Hulce as Mozart. The movie, as well as the play on which it's based, shattered common misconceptions about Mozart and painted him in a much different light. Hulce gave a fantastic performance, and the story itself was very well-written. Of course, it probably helps that I love Mozart's music; the ending scene where he is dictating strains of the Requiem on his deathbed--every layer fully complete, as he hears them in his … [Read more...] about Harmonic Convergence of the Third Kind
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Endings and Beginnings
Today's blog post started from watching last night's series finale of Studio 60. In general, I really love series finales, primarily because the writers end the show by giving their characters what the viewers love best. I've been known to watch finales of series I have never seen before simply out of curiosity, though I did spare myself from the weird ending of The Sopranos. On Studio 60 there were some very nice resolutions to all the crazy storylines that have been at work since their … [Read more...] about Endings and Beginnings
The Art of…Football??
In a move that flies in the face of the ever-present "sports-vs-music" attitude, I must confess that I have developed a new-found respect for the sport of football. I was outside this morning in the heat of a late morning in June, watching my oldest son have the time of his life at football camp. In the midst of the war cries, the response of "Hit somebody!" when the coach asks them what they want to do, in the midst of the adrenaline and aggression, I found something else. A rhythm. A … [Read more...] about The Art of…Football??
Steve Jobs Is My New Best Friend!
I have a new special place in my heart for one Mr. Steve Jobs. With a spouse who is a raving Disney fanatic, not to mention three young children, I am well-versed in Disney cinema. I marveled at the innovation of the multi-plane camera; I thought the Fantasia concept was genius; I was captivated by the resurgence of the movie-musical, both in film and on Broadway. What I could never stomach, however, was the modern trend of direct-to-video sequels. Now it's only fair to mention that I … [Read more...] about Steve Jobs Is My New Best Friend!
Choices
While driving home from my last official workday today, I started thinking about the choices I had made that led me here. A couple of years ago, before I found out I was pregnant for the third time, I had planned to go to law school--not because I was particularly interested in being a hot-shot attorney, but you couldn't argue with the pay. Most likely I would have been finished with school by now had I gone that route. But I wouldn't trade my littlest boy for anything in the world. And I am … [Read more...] about Choices
Update
Well, I have managed to live through another week. Hooray! The threat at the high school this week had given a specific day: Friday. Today (or rather, yesterday, though I'm still up). I'd have to say at least 50% of the student population stayed home today. I almost called in myself. But, I had faith--okay, and a queasy stomach, but oh well--that everything would be fine. And it was, thank God. Nothing happened, no one got hurt. I hope they catch whoever made that threat though. That … [Read more...] about Update