The Unbearable Lightness of Being
I actually finished it while I was home over the summer, but I never blogged about it. Without a doubt, one of the best books I have ever read! It's fabulous! So profound, evocative, and well-written, even in translation (It was originally written in czech). The depth of the symbolism is endless, and this is one of those books that demands a second read. Kundera simultaneously delves into human nature and historical events in a philosophical manner - but nevertheless remains anchored in realism. This book is truly brilliant; its complexity is rich and beautiful. Though it is definitly not a light read.
- posted by Nicole @ 11:02 AM

 
Tony Blair Quote
From a 1998 speech, quoted in "Breaking of Nations":
"We have to enter the new millennium making it known to dictatorships that ethnic cleansing will not be approved. And if we fight, it is not for territorial imperatives but for values. For a new internationalism where the brutal repression of ethnic groups will not be tolerated. For a world where those responsible for crimes will have nowhere to hide."
So Tony, why aren't you doing anything about the Sudan?
- posted by Nicole @ 6:59 PM

 
Poster on our Door
We just got a new poster for the door of our suite. There's a picture of Lisa Simpson and it says:

"You've defined yourself as a rebel. And in the absence of a repressive milieu your social niche has been co-opted."

Just a little Yalie humor for you . . .
- posted by Nicole @ 6:48 PM

 
The Boy From Oz
Oh my God - I'm moving to Australia and marrying Hugh Jackman! But more on that in just a sec.

I'm back at school and nearly all settled in. The suite is not a bad/small as I remembered, which makes me happy. And it's so good to be back with all my friends, and even better that I know what I'm doing this time, rather than running around like a chicken with my head cut off (oh, those poor freshmen . . .)

But me mum came with me to move in and on Thursday night we took the train into New York City to see Hugh Jackman in The Boy From Oz on Broadway (I've been dying to see it ever since I watched the Tony awards, where he won Best Actor). We had a lovely dinner at Puleo's, this Italian restaurant right by the theater, with this amazing chocolate cake for dessert, along with some espresso. With my excitement and euphoria magnified by the cake and the espresso, I nearly blasted off. My blood pressure will never be the same. Then we climbed up to our seats in the LAST ROW of the COMPLETELY SOLD OUT theater, prepared our binoculars for the gorgeous Aussie's entrance, and waited.

Well, perhaps needless to say, the show was absolutely incredible! Especially the second act. OH MY GOD - HUGH JACKMAN IS AMAZING! AND GORGEOUS! And funny (ad libbing with the audience, teasing the late comers), and talented (sings,dances, ACTS, AND plays piano) etc, etc. He rocks my world (particularly in the second act when he removes his shirt - AGGGHHHH!) The show was really funny, but it was also moving too, and my mom and I were a teary mess by the end. The show is the story of Peter Allen, this Australian singer/songwriter who was discovered by Judy Garland, and married her daughter, Liza Minelli. Hugh Jackman's acting was awesome - he really paced his performance, and didn't give everything away at the beginning; he just steadily kept building as the show went along. He has a fabulous, powerful voice, and though the music didn't totally show all he is capable of, there were some songs at the end that did, and they were awesome (particularly "I still call Australia Home", with the unfurling of a HUGH Australia flag as the backdrop). "Once Before I go" was beautiful too, and I can't imagine what that song will be like a the Final Performance on Sept 12th. I loved the song "Not the Boy Next Door", the one he did at the Tony's; it's a great song, a perfect closer for the first Act, and he was so energized! The show was incredible. And I succeeded in converting my mother. She's now a dedicated member of the "I Love Hot Australians Named Hugh Jackman" Club.

AND THEN! After the show, we went outside and waited at the stage door for him to come out. There was a ton of people, and we couldn't really get close, so we climbed up a lamppost and had the best seats in the house. He was such a nice guy - signed so many autographs and was really friendly. AND THEN, while he was signing some programs he saw us up on the lamppost, and I think he thought we were funny, and he smiled and waved - AGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!! HUGH JACKMAN WAVED TO ME! AGGGGGGHH! I almost passed out. Then I hyperventilated. Then my mom and I almost missed our train so we sprinted from Times Square to Grand Central Station. But we made it.
- posted by Nicole @ 12:12 PM

 
With or Without You
I seriously think that the guys in U2 wrote that song about their parents while they were getting ready to leave for college . . .
- posted by Nicole @ 11:58 PM

 
Happy Birthday Barb!
"Life is short - buy the shoes."
- posted by Nicole @ 9:17 PM

 
Webster's REAL College Dictionary
expensive (ex-PEHN-sif) adj.: anything costing more than five dollars.
- posted by Nicole @ 8:02 PM

 
The Manchurian Candidate
I saw the original earlier this summer and really loved it, so I was extremely skeptical going into the remake. But I had heard good things about it from respectable sources and thought I'd give it a try. So Dad and I went to go see it on Monday night. IT WAS FABULOUS! They preserved the integrity of the original but added some fresh spins that really revitalized it. And they changed the climax a little so that I actually wasn't sure how it was going to end. The cast was wonderful! Denzel Washington rocked, and so did Liev Shreiber (who graduated from Yale!). Liev was perfect for the part! Meryl Streep was good too. I thought she was a little over the top in the beginning, and though I think she lacks the subtlety of Angela Lansbury, in the end I liked her in the part. It was awesome, and very suspenseful. Extremely well done!
- posted by Nicole @ 2:00 PM

 
Back From Europe
Wow - long time no blog! I got back from Europe about a week ago and it was absolutely AMAZING! I went with American Music Abroad again, and it was definitly the best time of the three. It was incredible! Fabulous, funny, charismatic, dynamic people and unforgettable experiences. I won't take the time to record all of our adventures (escapades?), because I don't have the space or the time (ask mom: we sat in a cafe for 4 hours - literally! - while I recounted the trip to her). But here's a brief outline:
We went to France first, visiting Omaha Beach and other landmark sites
of the D-Day invasion of Normandie. Then we went to Paris, which is
everything you'd imagine! We went to the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower,
Montmartre, Notre Dame, and SHOPPING. Then we traveled east to Germany
and stayed in this really cool spa town in the mountains before heading
into East Germany, where the effects of Communism are still very much
evident; it was very enlightening. The people in East Germany were so
excited that we came - it is such a big deal to them. They rolled out
the red carpet like you cannot even believe - gala dinner and
everything! Then we went south to Austria and the Alps (which are
breathtaking, awesome, incredible, and a whole bunch of other things
that the English language is incapable of expressing!) We visited
Mozart's house in Salzburg and I practically had to pay import taxes on
the amount of chocolate I brought back. Great times, great people. I
didn't want to come home. I had this mini-depression when I got back, it
lasted like a week; I'm only just beginning to feel better.

I realize that this summary leaves out all the exiciting parts like German beer, gay bars in Passau, and Tyrolean Folk Fests, but if you'd like a more detailed account, call me - we'll do coffee! If you have four hours to spare . . .

I just got my pictures back yesterday and they turned out great! I'll try to post some of them when I have the time, but meanwhile, check out Jeff's website, he's got some good pics on there. This trip was amazing - it defies words! SO much fun!
- posted by Nicole @ 1:34 PM