Rats!
Darn it! I was really disappointed when I got up this morning and my paper hadn't finished writing itself. I figured I started it off well enough, and I could go to bed and it would take care of the rest. *sigh* 1700 words and counting . . .
- posted by Nicole @ 1:17 PM

 
Hooray!
One down, nineteen to go! . . . pages, I mean . . .
- posted by Nicole @ 2:32 PM

 
The Interpreter
Really good movie - action movie with political drama plus substance. Well written, well acted (LOVE Nicole Kidman - she's like Midas, everything she touches turns to gold. Like Oscar gold.) Really intriguing and suspenseful, just one of those movies that's really worth the price of admission. Go see it, if you have time.

Speaking of time . . .
- posted by Nicole @ 1:13 AM

 
Penderecki's Credo
The concert was actually last Friday, I just haven't gotten around to blogging it. Suffice to say it was one of the most incredible performance experiences I've ever had in my entire life. Right up there with playing Amazing Grace at Omaha Beach in Normandie. I hated this piece at first, but once we finally put it all together with the orchestra (the grad school Philharmonia), the other SATB choir (the Camerata), the children's choir (the Elm City Girls choir), and the balcony brass, it turned into this incredible piece. There were over 300 musicians involved - they had to build an extention onto the regular stage extention. It was insane. Just the sheer amount of SOUND was overwhelming. SO powerful. It was incredible to be a part of - defies words, actually. It has such raw emotion and spirituality, it was a transcendant experience, enlightening; I think I reached nirvana. It was one of the most powerful experiences of my life.

In a lot of places, the Credo really sounds like a film score, complete with a "chase scene" and everything. It's reminiscient in places of John Williams, of Lord of the Rings in others. And then there are those incredible parts where the children's choir comes in with this perfect ethereal sound, singing a hymn in Polish in the midst of the Latin text of the Credo. And then there's the final chord in about 10-part harmony with orchestra and choir triple forte, only to drop right off to the soft, sustained chord of the balcony brass. Tears. It's simply amazing.

And I'm so glad that my family got to be there for it - mom, nana, and aunt Toni were all in town for it. It's an experience I'll never forget. Did I mention that joining Glee Club was one of the BEST decisions I've ever made. And if that incredible performance wasn't enough, we got out tour itinerary for the Australia/New Zealand trip today . . .
- posted by Nicole @ 1:02 AM

 
Watch Your Language!

Your Linguistic Profile:

60% General American English

20% Yankee

15% Upper Midwestern

5% Midwestern

0% Dixie

I got this off Leah's blog. It's pretty cool! I think that mid-west stuff is because I say "pop" (which is clearly the only name for the fizzy brown stuff).
- posted by Nicole @ 2:37 PM

 
Richard Clarke and the End of Terrorism
I was soooooo excited! Richard Clarke was on campus today giving a talk, so I went to go see him. Unless you're huge a polsci geek like me, you probably don't know that he's like THE counterterrorism guy. He basically knows everything there is to know about it, having worked under Bush I, Clinton, and Bush II. He is a sound human being and really, truly understands what terrorism is all about (something that can't be said for everyone in this administration), and - from my understanding of the subject - he's right on. I agree with him completely.

His talk was very encouraging and affirming for me. I've just finished up my class on International Terrorism and Global Responses (more about this below), and the fact that I could completely followed everything he was saying - the names he dropped, the organizations, the various issues and strategies concerning counter-T - made me feel really confident and showed me how much I really got out of that fabulous, fabulous class. It was very affirming to me in other ways as well. (What was really funny, though, was that I really wasn't even supposed to be there: it was a Master's Tea exclusively for the members of Saybrook college - of which I am not - but I didn't know that (and only found out after the talk had begun . . . I was wondering why no one else had heard about it . . .), whoops! Oh well! . . . I would have gone anyway . . .) Then I stayed afterwards to get him to sign his book - Against All Enemies. The book is actually my dad's, so I had Clarke sign it for him. I'm gonna give it (back) to my dad for his birthday - BUT SHHHHHHH! DON'T TELL-IT'S A SURPRISE! He was a really nice guy, really got his head on straight. This definitly gets the award of Best Master's Tea of the Year for the 2004-2005 school year! It was a really wonderful afternoon.

Sadly, Terrorism ended last night. No, silly, not like "Osama bin Laden" terrorism. I mean International Terrorism and Global Responses. My AMAZING seminar that I have loved so much and gotten so much out of. I'm depressed. Really. That class meant SO much to me, and the prof was AWESOME. I have so much respect and admiration for him. He is one of the most intelligent, pragmatic, funny people I have had the priviledge of meeting. The thought that I won't get to take a class from him or even SEE him again makes me really sad. He was just a wealth of knowledge (and of amusing anecdotes from "life in the field" as well! SOOOO many funny stories! The kind of guy you'd want for an uncle or something so you could get him drunk at family parties and make him tell fascinating stories all night.) He's the ultimate realist, and I don't mean in a theoretical political science sort of way. He's a practitioner, and his assessment of a given issue is based on the facts on the GROUND - not some useless academic theorizing (ooooooh, you should hear him go off about polsci theory - it's hilarious, and I completly agree with him. "Rational choice theory? Haven't these people ever been in a relationship before?!?! People are NOT rational! The whole foundation of political science theory is WRONG!"). I think the reason I admire him so much - aside from the fact that he's like the coolest person I've ever met, and also aside from the fact that I agree with most of his opinions and points of view - is that I could see myself being very much like him some day. I will really miss this class - it always went by so quickly, and I never minded doing the reading, because it was fascinating. Though once I actually start writing the final paper - which I still have ahead of me - I'm sure these feelings will begin to ebb. Twenty-page papers have a way of doing that . . .

I'm sorry that this post was really rambling, gushing, and nonsensical, but it this is one of those posts that is really more for me than it is for you. Again, I apologize.
- posted by Nicole @ 12:04 AM

 
I Know Everyone has their "Cause" . . .
. . . but this one is mine: THE CRISIS IN DARFUR IS NOT OVER. This Op-ed in the NYT sums it up nicely (and I've never been one to promote MTV): Mr Bush, Take a Look at MTV.
- posted by Nicole @ 1:28 AM

 
Transatlanitc Relations
Shirking all my homework obligations (and my Friday morning class!) I spent last night improving the US-UK Transatlantic relationship. Even though I had a lot of work to do, I felt that it was my solemn duty as an American citizen to go the concert of this ALL MALE BRITISH a cappella group from OXFORD. OMG - they were INCREDIBLE. Never in my life did I ever imagine that I might one day see an a cappella group as good as the Vineyard Sound (the group of college guys that sings a cappella all summer for tourists on Martha's Vineyard). But low and behold: a group as musically strong and talented, as comically amusing and entertaining, as charismatic and dynamic, singing as great a repetoire, AND WITH A BRITISH ACCENT. I swooned. Twice.

I first caught sight of them playing soccer in the JE courtyard. Knew they were Brits cuz, (a) the Yale a cappella group that is hosting them is directed by my friend's roommate, (b) American boys don't play soccer, and (c) American boys CERTAINLY don't play soccer that well. I swooned. Twice. Then I called Beth and left her a hysterical, hyperventilating voicemail message: "OMG - Beth, there are four hot British boys playing soccer in the JE courtyard. Get over here NOW."

Then they all ate dinner in the JE dining hall (we hosted them, and they used our dining hall for the concert). In the middle of dinner they all stood up and just started singing (all the girls in the dining hall swooned. Twice.) to advertise their concert. It was FABULOUS.

The concert was INCREDIBLE! They're just as funny and charismatic and talented as the Vineyard Sound, with all the side comedy and crazy antics. So cute (I'm gushing, sorry.) They had a fabulous program too - great songs. They did "In the Jungle", some of the Vineyard Sound Songs, inc "Take me on", and this really tall, really bass guy sang "I'm too sexy" - HILARIOUS. It was an amazing concert! And then I went with Beth and her roommate to the after party and further cultivated transatlantic relations and immersed myself in foreign culture (eg: much Guiness was consumed). They are a really fun group of guys, and it was a fabulous night that really lifted my spirits in the middle of all this exam-stressing-paper-writing-crap. Definitly a night to remember! Email me if you want to see pics.
- posted by Nicole @ 8:04 PM

 
New Movies
I am so BEYOND excited: theScoreStation.com, this internet radio station I listen to that plays only film scores, has just put the new John Williams score for Star Wars Episode III on the site - AGGGGGGHHHHHHHH! So exciting! The score sounds good so far. Now if only the movie doesn't suck...

On a more depressing note, I just watched the extended trailor for Kingdom of Heaven (the new Ridley Scott(Gladiator) film), and sadly, it looks bad. Really bad. Like, maybe even worse than Troy. *gasp* Such a shame. I'm sorry, I can't take Orlando Bloom seriously if he's not dressed like an elf. Also, the dialogue sucks. A lot of that "faux epic" style where every phrase is trying so desperately hard to be poetic and memorable that it turns out to be nothing more than melodramatic kitsch. And what's more, Edward Norton's character wears a mask through the whole thing. You mean to tell me that you went through all the trouble of getting Edward Norton to be in your film, paying him TONS of money, and you're not even gonna show his beatiful face?!?!?! What are you THINKING?!?!?!? Of COURSE, I'm still gonna go see it, but now my expectations are a lot lower, and I may even go drunk. People need to leave the historical epic genre alone for a little while, and get rid of all the Lord-of-the-Rings-epic-battle-scene-wanna-be-ness while they're at it. WE'VE ALREADY SEEN ALL THIS.

One of the movies that I watched over Spring Break I forgot to Blog about, which is a shame because it was the only good movie among the bunch of mediocre ones: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Fabulous film! Highly, HIGHLY stylized, so if you don't like/can't embrace the genre, you'll hate it. But if you can embrace the style, it is done with such perfection that you can't fail to enjoy every minute of it. It's sooooooo well done, and the style never breaks consistency. It's kind of Indiana Jones meets 1940's noir detective stories with an scifi-adventure spin (I promise you'll recognize the style and it will be familiar to you if you see it), with hot-shot pilot hero (Jude Law) and intrepid, spunky reporter (Gwyneth Palthrow). Such a great film - just a lot of fun, yet really well done. And the sad thing is, the film was essentially ignored by everyone. Shame.
- posted by Nicole @ 1:55 PM

 
Lavender
So, I’m attempting to recover from this absolutely heinous week. I’m in DESPERATE need of a vacation, but with none in sight, I have to resort to other methods. The one I’ve seized upon has actually been provided by my wonderful cousin Barb: a small bottle of lavender aromatherapy. Here’s what Google turned up:

Lavender offers a multitude of benefits and uses. It balances the mood, clears the mind, has a long tradition in skin & hair care as well as medicine and is used for many household solutions. One of the unique characteristics of Lavender Essential Oil is that it is not merely energizing or relaxing, but balancing. The scent of Lavender will rejuvenate and inspire a tired person, and relax, soothe and slow down someone who is stressed or tense. Harness the powers of Lavender to add balance and serenity to our increasingly hectic lives. While pharmaceutical drugs are limited to either stimulating or sedating a person, Lavender - like many other remedies offered by nature - is able to re-establish the person's balanced, harmonious and natural state without the use of synthetic chemicals.

Supposed to relieve headache, anxiety, stomach ache, stress – basically everything from which I am currently suffering. So I gave it a try, and it already seems to be working quite well. Will report more later.
- posted by Nicole @ 12:52 PM

 
Friends
It is extremely important to have friends outside of your own residential college. That way, when housing draw prompts the rapid deterioration of civil and diplomatic relations, and incites hostility nearly amounting to physical violence and war, you still have other friends left over in the end and another dining hall at which to eat, since avoiding your own becomes a necessity.

Yes, room draw got THAT ugly.

It basically couldn't have gone any worse, actually. There is a rift in our suite the size of the GRAND CANYON, and I really don't know how we'll continue to coexist for the next 4-5 weeks. It's actually ok so far, since we're all avoiding the suite like it's our JOB.

Our physical housing scenario turned out - actually - potentially excellent, though quite unintentionally. See, Abigail and I got screwed over and abandonned so many times, that we drifted down alone to the bottom of the pile. And things at the bottom just turned out to be better than anyone could have imagined. As of now, Abby, Rosanna(LONG story) and I are UNDEROCCUPYING a quint (as in - the 3 of us living in a suite made for 5). Go us. Though, as I said, quite unintentionally. There is the possibility that we could have transfer students placed with us, but - lets be honest - at this moment, my list of friends in JE is running a little shorter than usual, so it probably wouldn't hurt to make some new ones. And it worked out just fine freshman year when they stuck us with 5 other girls we'd never seen before.

So, it turned out ok in the end, but it has - literally - been THE MOST (emotionally/psychologically) stressful experience of my whole life. It devoured hours of my time and unquantifiable amounts of energy, patience, and sanity. It exhausted me. Not to mention the fact that for almost a week, it was impossible to get any work done. I am hopeful that the severed relationships will mend with time; you can't stay mad at people forever (though the Israelis and the Palestinians are trying real hard...).
- posted by Nicole @ 12:51 PM

 
That's It
I've decided: I'm quitting EVERYTHING. Diplomas are overrated. Abigail and I are moving to some random beach in Guatemala where we will make our living as hot American bartenders. Life has become way too complicated. This is by far the best option.
- posted by Nicole @ 9:44 PM