Much Ado About Nothing
Last night - which was an absolutely gorgeous night - I went to go see Shakespeare in the Park's Much Ado About Nothing. I have to say that Midsummer Night's Dream was much better. Midsummer was a lot funnier, as I think the director did a better job of bringing out the comedy; also, John Warren - the guy who played Puck in Midsummer - was so strong that I think the rest of the cast fed off his energy and comedic timing, and he was sadly not in this one. The acting in Much Ado About Nothing was rather flat, which made the play drag. The guy who played Claudio was just bad (come one, man - you just found out that Hero is dead. Like, be sad or something!), no emotion whatsoever. Benedick and Beatrice were pretty good, though a bit overdone at times. The only one who stood out to me was one of the very minor characters: Borachio; he was excellent, and came across as being the most real and natural. He also gave his lines a twist by adding a really cool accent (something of the British Isles, can't exactly say what). But I can't remember ever laughing out loud (whereas, during Midsummer, there were several occasions where I was laughing so hard I missed the next couple of lines), and I can't tell if the fault lies in the acting, directing, or the fact the Midsummer may be just a funnier play than Much Ado. I mean, there was nothing blatently wrong with the production - sets and costumes, etc were cool - but it just didn't have the energy that Midsummer had, and failed to hold the attention of the audience with Midsummer's tenacity. I'm looking forward to next year's season, which will include Henry IV part I - the play we read this past year in my English class.
- posted by Nicole @ 11:22 AM

 
Top Five
My best friend and I were talking about the new Peter Pan that is due out in theaters this Christmas, and I mentioned that I was greatly looking forward to it because Peter Pan was one of my top five favorite Disney movies. She asked me what the others were, and so I thought I'd share them. In no particular order they are (meaning the top five animated Disney classics):
1. Peter Pan
2. Sleeping Beauty
3. The Great Mouse Detective (a little known one, but a nevertheless ingenious adaptation of the Sherlock Homes stories)
4. Robin Hood
5. Hercules

Though Disney has stopped making traditional animated films (sorry, Finding Nemo DOESN'T count, and I don't care what the entire population of America and every single critic says - I really didn't think it was all THAT good), I mean the ones with the music and songs, I'm happy to see them finally finding success in the non-animated film market - meaning Pirates of the Caribbean - as they've had some real flops lately, *cough-cough-the-Country-Bears* . . . honestly, what were they thinking . . .

- posted by Nicole @ 1:34 PM

 
Sunday
There were so many interesting things going on in Buffalo this past Sunday, I hardly knew what to do with myself. Well - a lot of things that LOOKED intersting, anyway. I read Oliver Twist last Fall and, having enjoyed it very much, decided to go see the musical adaptation at the Lancaster Opera House. Sadly, I have few nice things to say about either to musical itself or this particular production. It was rather disappointing. (note to self: stop going to see community theater OR stop going to see community theater with high - or even medium - expectations . . .) I was not impressed by the casting, and just about the only one on stage worth watching was the guy who played the Artful Dodger. Oliver himself was downright obnoxious; Oliver is supposed to be loveable and endearing, and this kid was everything but. Of all the things I could have done with that two and a half hours of my life . . .

Sunday night was a bit more rewarding. A bunch of my friends and I went to see our old music teacher, Doc Baudo, perform with his band at the Niagara River. They were really good, though I didn't know too many of the songs they played. It turned out to be a really beautiful night, even though it poured the whole afternoon - I think that's why there was such a small crowd at the concert. A little bit of big band jazz always enhances a summer evening.
- posted by Nicole @ 8:05 PM

 
Canoe Fun!
I went canoeing (spelling?) today with my bestest friend, and - despite the clouds and occasional rain drops - it was a lot of fun. We went on Ellicott Creek, which is kind of rancid, but if you don't think about the cleanliness of the water, it's actually quite pleasant. We chased ducks and some type of heron, and even went after a very small turtle. I was surprised that any living organizm could actually inhabit that water! We wandered a bit and kind of got lost (not in the sense that we didn't know how to get back, only didn't know where we were geographically), but it was a bit of an adventure. A thoroughly enjoyable time!
- posted by Nicole @ 5:34 PM

 
Arthur Conan Doyle
I'm currently reading a biography on Arthur Conan Doyle (part of my quest to explore the realms of non-fiction), and I just read about how he was the ONLY one who predicted the importance of German submarines in WWI and understood the magnitude of the threat they posed - not just to warships, but to merchant vessels in order to disable the economy of their adversary. Everyone else laughed at the idea, and the hypothetical short story he published on the matter was ignored. After the war had long since begun, the German Naval Secretary acknowledged his foresight. (I know this seems really dorky, but if you're into history - this is interesting!)
- posted by Nicole @ 11:41 PM

 
Winnie!
My cousin is looking for a good home for her 3-year-old shepherd mix named Winnie. She's a sweetheart! Here's a page that gives a little more information AND a picture.
- posted by Nicole @ 6:15 PM

 
Dorm Stuff
The first wave of dorm shopping commenced at 1600 today, and the mission was remarkably successful. Initially intended to be merely for the purposes of reconnaissance, the mission yielded significant results and expenditure of funds was the only logical option. I got my bedding, including a comforter, mattress pad, and really really soft-natural-fiber sheets. Navy blue (my fav color and coincidentally the color of my school) is the theme. Other targeted essentials, such as a full length mirror, ironing board, fan, and a travel coffee mug, were also achieved. Much else is still required, and future missions will be organized by the intelligence department to supplement today's purchases. Any tips or suggestions are welcome.
- posted by Nicole @ 9:49 PM

 
Air Show II
On Saturday, we first went to the US Air Force Museum on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. It was really cool - I've never seen anything like it! There were four hangers full of aircraft: one was devoted to early flight (The Wright Bros, etc) and WWI, the next was filled completely with WWII aircraft - P-51s, B-17s, P-38s, even some Nazi planes and an exhibit devoted to the Flying Tigers (the squadron from which my favorite restaurant derives its name), a third devoted to more modern/Korean War age aircraft (including some Soviet MiGs), and the last to the most modern; it was really interesting to see the progression. They had a brand new YF-22 on display, which - once mass production commences - will make all other current fighter jets obsolete, an SR-71 which made my father really happy, a U-2 suspended from the ceiling, and any other plane you can think of. The F-16 they had on diplay was a Thunderbird (I almost cried, it was so beautiful!). I got to actually sit in the the cockpit of an F-4 and an F-16 - what a powerful feeling! It was so cool! I learned so much!

We spent the morning at the museum, then left for the airshow again, but didn't arrive until after we'd inched along in traffic for THREE HOURS! There were sooooooo many people, it was ridiculous! But it was worth it, because the Saturday show was even better! The Thunderbirds looked great, again (of course), and the whole experience was really special. All in all, a very successful celebration of the centennial of powered flight!
- posted by Nicole @ 11:14 AM

 
Amazing Air Show!
Wow - In celebration of the centennial of powered flight, Dayton put on a great air show! Any show that can get the Snowbirds, the Blue Angels, and the Thunderbirds all together is definitely worth the 6 hour drive. Friday was kind of cloudy, but it was actually a good thing because the heat wasn't overbearing. There weren't as many planes on static display as I thought there would be, and the international cotingency was nearly non-existent, save for the sole German Tornado. They had a great mix of modern and historical aircraft, both on display and in the air. The pyrotechnically-simulated bombing by a B-17, P-51, and others was really interesting because it was enhanced by a narrator with a great deal of historical knowledge. I learned more on this one trip than on all of the other airshows I've attended combined! They had a lot of exhibits set up in tents, including one devoted to the Wright Brothers's early experiments and one following the history of women in flight. The Blue Angels had to fly their low show because of the low ceiling, and they were good, but a little sloppy (as usual . . . the Thunderbirds are sooooooo much better . . .). By 5:00, just before the Thunderbirds took to the air the clouds lifted and the sun came streaming through, proving without a doubt that God likes the Thunderbirds better and enabling them to switch from their low show to their high show midflight! They flew an incredible, flawless show that was so clean and so tight it was breathtaking! To see them flying in and out of the streaming sunlight was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. This marvelous day closed with the vertical take off and landing of a Harrier jet (honestly, the loudest thing I've ever heard in my life!) which was really interesting because I've never seen a plane hover and move laterally. It was really a terrific show!
- posted by Nicole @ 4:08 PM

 
Thursday in the Square
I just got back from my first ever Thursday in the Square concert and it was a lot of fun! (Thursday in the Square is a free summer concert series we have every week in downtown Buffalo) The bands were pretty good - nothing terrific, but it's the atmosphere that's really cool. Its fun to "people-watch" because there is such an interesting mix, as the concerts attract so many different types of people. The first band was called McCarthyizm; they were ok. The lead singer was having some intonation problems that made my ears want to bleed, but they played two Celtic-type tunes that were awesome (and would have been even better if the fiddle player had been in tune!) But big, outdoor venues like the Square are tough, as far as acoustics and intonation are concerned, so I will give them the benefit of the doubt. The second band was They Might Be Giants, and I must admit that I didn't listen too closely to them because I ran into a group of friends I hadn't seen in a while and consequently was paying little attention to the music. They played an encore, though, and sounded decent enough from what I heard. The crowd seemed to like them better than McCarthyizm. All in all, a good night and a fun experience. I shall be back!

I'm really excited because (though I have to rise in the wee hours of the morning) I'm going to Dayton, OH tomorrow for two days for this huuuuuuuggge international airshow! The Snowbirds, the Thunderbirds, AND the Blue Angels are all flying each day!!!!!! (If you're into planes - that's an amazing and beautiful thing!) This show is so big that Saturday sold out - how do you sell out an air show?!?!? Here's the website for the show if you want to check it out: www.daytonairshow.com
- posted by Nicole @ 10:04 PM

 
Silly Things My Mother Says Without Thinking - At Concerts! (as promised)
After seeing the Vineyard Sound a cappella group perform Thursday night on vacation, I decided to bring my mother back the next night because I knew she'd really enjoy the concert. After a marvelous first half, the group took a break and one of the members explained how they were selling raffle tickets, the winner of which would get a free half-hour show anytime during the next year. So my mother shouts from the back of the hall, "How far do you go?" After the explosion of laughter died down a bit and the boys on stage stopped blushing, my mother proceeded to make matters worse in attempt to clarify, saying, "I meant what city." And it didn't help that the next song they did was "I'm Easy, Easy Like Sunday Morning". . . .
- posted by Nicole @ 6:55 PM

 
Harry Potter V
While on vacation, I had the opportunity to finish reading Harry Potter V - all 870 pages of it! While this one was undoubtedly better written than its predecessor (surprising elevated vocabulary for a "childrens" book), Potter IV is still my favorite one in the series (sorry, Mr. Hoffman, can't agree with you on IV being the low point - in my opinion, Chamber of Secrets is the weak link). I thought the fifth installment was unnecessarily long - there was a lot of superfluous writing. There wasn't enough plot to warrant that number of pages, and in the middle sections, it dragged a bit. But the characters, as always, were colorful and memorable. The new characters, including members of the Order of the Phoenix and the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, were multifaceted and intertesting, with very distinct personalities. The further development of old caracters was also impressive, as Rowling shed more light on Snape, Dumbledore, et al, in addition to revealing critical information about Harry himself. My favorite part of the book was when Harry viewed a memory of Snape's, and he saw his father (James) and Sirius harrass and humiliate Snape for no apparent reason; this passage just stood out to me, not only for the creative premise of allowing Harry to see his father and godfather through the eyes of another, but to provide more details regarding the history of several supporting characters and their relationship with each other. James Potter's behavior also makes Harry's newfound temper and general irritability more easily understood. I was really sad to see the death of one of my favorite characters, as I think he was one of the best of Rowling's creations; I will miss him in the final two installments. Overall, it was a decent read. The quirky characters and creative elements of Hogwarts (ie: Harry's detention with Umbridge - the lines he writes on paper are carved into the back of his hand!) and wizarding life in general (Ministry of Magic desciptions) are strong as usual. Definitely the most well-written of the series, but I personally found it to be too long in length and too short in plot.
- posted by Nicole @ 4:01 PM

 
Summer Movies
This past week, I made it to the movies no less than four times - but Hollywood has turned out a surprisingly large number of interesting summer movies this year, and there were so many I wanted to see. The first one I saw was Legally Blonde II. (I know, I know, you're all rolling your eyes and groaning at me!) But it was actually pretty cute. You have to first come to terms with the fact that it's silly, completely unrealistic, and a bit over the top, but once you are past these things, it can be a lot of fun. Reese Witherspoon is as charming in this one as in the first, and while the first was probably more funny (because the premise and characters were hitherto unexplored), this one still has its hysterical moments and hilarious one-liners ("Oh My God, like, it's Capital Barbie!"). If you're looking for something light and extremely fluffy (and, of course, with a happy ending), this movie is for you.

The best movie I saw last week, and indeed the best I've seen in a while, was Pirates of the Caribbean. What a fabulous movie! It's absolutely terrific, and I have nothing but good things to say about it! Johnny Depp is a comedic genius - he's hysterical. He plays Capt Jack Sparrow in such a quirky, unique way - and gives a brilliant performance! Even if you don't dig the whole pirate premise - go see it just for him! I actually say this film two nights in a row (opening night, and then the follwing). I've been following this film since production began, and was not in the least disappointed! Orlando Bloom, Kiera Knightley, and Geoffrey Rush all give wonderful supporting performances, and the cast as a whole has incredible depth. As a pirate film - a potentially disasterous genre - it is vital that it not take itself too seriously, and this one doesn't - much to its success. The comedy holds together an intricate plot, and the boys at Industrial Light & Magic did a great job on the effects. The score rocks (though I was mistaken - in a previous post I said that Alan Silvestri was composing, but Klaus Bladet did instead.) Overall, just a fabulous summer movie.

The final movie I saw was League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Somewhat disappointing. Great premise (a league of famous literary characters, including Captain Nemo, Dr. Jekyll, Dorian Gray, Tom Sawyer, et al joined to fight an evil war-mongerer), cool characters, awesome special effects, but for some reason - BORING. I really couldn't put my finger on why I found it to be boring, but I think I finally figured it out: the acting was flat. All the acters portrayed their characters essentially the same way, and so in addition to inadequate charater development, there was little character diversity. The writing wasn't too great either. I found myself emotionally detached. The filmmakers had some great ideas, but didn't follow through. This could have been a great movie, but it fell short. It really didn't go anywhere.
- posted by Nicole @ 4:06 PM

 
My Residential College
I got my housing information for school next year in the mail while I was on vacation, including roommate/suitemate info and my residential college. For those who are wondering what a residential college is, the best way I can explain it is by comparing it to Harry Potter. In Harry Potter there are four houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff; students are sorted into one of the four houses upon entering and live there for the duration of their time at the school. Yale has 12 residential colleges (basically the same thing as the Harry Potter houses) - Branford, Berekely, Calhoun, Saybrook, Timothy Dwight, Siliman, Davenport, Morse, Ezra Stiles, Pierson, Trumbull - and mine: Jonathan Edwards. Each college is designed to be a microcosm of the University, but each has its own identity. The residential college system is one of the major factors that attracted me to Yale - it provides a family-type structure within the University; each college has its own dining hall and dorms, as well as intramural sports teams, etc. I'm very excited! I'm sharing a suite with five other girls - one of whom is from Kuwait! Here's the website for Jonathan Edwards, if you want to check it out and see where I'll be living for the next four years: www.yale.edu/je
- posted by Nicole @ 3:47 PM

 
Vineyard Vacation
I'm back! We had a wonderful trip - it was truly one of the best Vineyard vacations I've ever had, and that's saying a lot, as this was our 9th summer. So many new and exciting experiences! One of the biggest highlights of the trip came on our penultimate night, when a group of us attended a concert by The Vineyard Sound, the island's all male a cappella group. They were fabulous! So good, even, that we went to another one of their concerts the very next night. (And I purchased two of their cds!) Their blend was incredible and the attention paid to dymanics really enhanced their songs - a lot of a cappella groups tend to ignore the importance of dynamics, and are weaker because of it. They performed a wide variety of songs to keep it interesting(including a really awesome version of one of my personal favorites: "Walking in Memphis", and also did justice to "Leaving on a Jet Plane"). In addition to their singing talents, they are comical and crack jokes to keep the audience involved between songs. (Coming soon in a future post: Stupid Things My Mother says without Thinking - at concerts!) They are a really talented group of guys, and I have added their website to my side bar - so feel free to check it out. I have nothing but good things to say about their performance! I was thoroughly impressed!
- posted by Nicole @ 12:33 PM

 
Hiatus
I'm leaving for vacation to Martha's Vineyard (an island off of Cape Cod) tonight and will be gone for about 10 days. It is the best place in the entire world (if God ever came down to earth for a vacation, he would stay in Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard - it's the world's most perfect place . . . next to Disneyworld, of course!) but I won't have access to a computer there, so this will be my last post until July 12th. But I will return!

While I'm on the Vineyard, I plan to see Pirates of the Caribbean, which comes out July 9th. As a big fan of nautical fiction, I'm greatly looking forward to seeing it (and who can deny the talents - and the beauty! - of Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom?) I've heard good things about the film, and Aint It Cool News.Com had nothing but praise for it after viewing a private screening. Alan Silvestri is terrific, and should have done a great job with the score (he also did the score for Cast Away), so I can't wait to hear how it turned out. I'll be very interested to see the final product of a film whose production I've followed since its inception.
- posted by Nicole @ 12:32 PM

 
Question
So here is my question, and it's a seemingly simple one: what does "Re" stand for? You know, when you send an email back to someone it says "Re:(subject of first email)"; but does it mean "reply", "response", "regarding", ????? I'm curious, and would like to know.
- posted by Nicole @ 3:21 PM