Tuesday, July 30, 2013

We Need to Have a Serious Conversation...

About Mary Poppins.


For those of you who didn't already know, Mary Poppins has been my favorite movie for my whole life. I have a deep connection with everything about this film. I could quote the entire movie, sing every song, perform every action, and mimic every facial expression for you without a second thought. I can even say Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious backwards. When I was little I would watch the entire 139 minutes, rewind the tape (we had to do that in my day), and watch it all over again. I could spend an entire day watching Mary Poppins over and over and over again.

Let me try and explain to you why Mary Poppins means so much to me. It's hard to know for sure because I was so young, but being a logical adult, I assume that I was also a relatively logical child. It was hard for me to really believe that other Disney movies could actually happen. While I love The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast, I never personally connected to them (my best guess) because they weren't real. Mary Poppins, Bert, and the Banks family are all very real people. When the animation came into the movie the real people didn't disappear which made me truly believe that the events in this movie could totally happen! All the magic seemed so real! When I pretended to have tea parties, my tea parties were always on the ceiling. To this day I will still occasionally snap my fingers in an attempt to clean my room. It hasn't worked yet, but I'm not giving up!

This movie also began my lifelong love of Julie Andrews. Mary Poppins is practically perfect in every way and she has become synonymous with Julie Andrews for me. I believe she (they) remains kind even when she is firm, she can make unappealing tasks exciting, and good Lord, can she sing! That voice is the voice of an angel and I tell you honestly that the day I read about her unfortunate throat surgery that damaged that voice, I cried. Like. A. Baby. I love Julie so much and if I ever got to meet her there is no doubt in my mind I would be crying tears of joy the whole time. Goodness, I'm getting choked up just thinking about it.

The next thing I'm going to share with you will be quite shocking to those of you who know me.

I have never read the book.


Honestly, I'm terrified. The movie is so perfect and Julie is so perfect that I couldn't bear to read the book and have it be any different from the movie. From what I understand, the book Mary Poppins is quite scary even with the magical powers. That's not how she should be! Also Ms. Travers sounds like an absolutely awful woman and since she hated the movie so much, I know the book is probably totally different. I doubt I will ever be able to sit down and read the book.

I had similar fears about seeing the musical on Broadway too. Thankfully I had listened to the music beforehand and knew it wasn't going to be exactly like the movie, but similar enough that I would like it. To my amazement, I didn't like it, I LOVED it. Seriously, if you ever have the chance to see it, please do it! The technical aspects of the show are astounding! While the techie in me longs to know how they pull off those amazing stunts, the child in me doesn't care and just enjoys seeing the magic again. At the end when Mary grabbed her umbrella and flew out over the audience I was crying. It was like my childhood fantasies had all come true. It was absolutely beautiful.

Seeing as my love of Mary Poppins is so great I am ashamed to announce that I was not the first person to know about the upcoming film Saving Mr. Banks. I was shown the trailer last night at a friend's birthday party. Check it out:


I think this movie looks amazing and is a true celebration of Mary Poppins 50th anniversary next year. It celebrates Walt Disney's creation despite all the struggles he had to go through to make it happen. The trailer makes it look like they have lightened P.L. Travers nastiness quite a bit. Read a few articles about her online and you'll see what I mean. Regardless, it's Mary Poppins. I'm seeing it. It comes out Christmas day and my birthday is the day after Christmas so HAPPY FRICKING BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!



I hope everyone has a movie from their childhood that they cherish with every fiber of their being. Mary Poppins holds a special place in my heart and (unlike the movie) her umbrella isn't going to carry her off anytime soon. 

I would love to hear what movie from your childhood is your favorite! Leave me a comment and let me know!

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Same Love

Wow. Just wow.

Am I the only person who hasn't heard this song? I heard it for the first time on the radio yesterday and my mind was immediately blown. I got all choked up and knew I had to share it with you guys on the off chance I wasn't the only person who hadn't heard it. The thing I love the most about this song is not so much the fact that the music is beautiful (which it is), but the fact that the MESSAGE is so beautiful. Please enjoy this amazing song, but more importantly, please listen.

LISTEN


Same Love - Macklemore with Ryan Lewis & feat. Mary Lambert

Same Love


When I was in the third grade I thought that I was gay,
'Cause I could draw, my uncle was, and I kept my room straight.
I told my mom, tears rushing down my face
She's like "Ben you've loved girls since before pre-k, trippin' "
Yeah, I guess she had a point, didn't she?
Bunch of stereotypes all in my head.
I remember doing the math like, "Yeah I'm good at little league"
A preconceived idea of whit it all meant
For those that liked the same sex
Had the characteristics
The ring wing conservatives think it's a decision
And you can be cured with some treatment and religion
Man-made rewiring of a predisposition
Playing God, aw nah here we go
America the brave still fears what we don't know
And God loves all his children, is somehow forgotten
But we paraphrase a book written thirty-five-hundred years ago
I don't know

And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm

If I was gay, I would think hip-hop hates me
Have you read the YouTube comments lately?
"Man, that's gay" get dropped on the daily
We become so numb to what we're saying
A culture founded from oppression
Yet we don't have acceptance for 'em
Call each other faggots behind the keys of a message board
A word rooted in hate, yet our genre still ignores it
Gay is synonymous with the lesser
It's the same hate that's caused wars from religion
Gender to skin color, the complexion of your pigment
The same fight that led people to walk outs and sit ins
It's human rights for everybody, there is no difference!
Live on and be yourself
When I was at church they taught me something else
If you preach hate at the service, those words aren't anointed
That holy water that you soak in has been poisoned
When everyone else is more comfortable remaining voiceless
Rather than fighting for humans that have had their rights stolen
I might not be the same, but that's not important
No freedom till we're equal, damn right I support it
I don't know

And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm

We press play, don't press pause
Progress, march on
With the veil over our eyes
We turn our back on the cause
Till the day that my uncles can be united by law
When kids are walking 'round the hallway plagued by pain in their heart
A world so hateful some would rather die than be who they are
And a certificate on paper isn't gonna solve it all
But it's a damn good place to start
No law is gonna change us
We have to change us
Whatever God you believe in
We come from the same one
Strip away the fear
Underneath it's all the same love
About time that we raised up

And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm

Love is patient
Love is kind
Love is patient
Love is kind
(not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
(not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind
(not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
(not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind
(not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
(not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind
(not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
Love is kind


Sunday, July 21, 2013

Saturday, July 20, 2013

A Little Bit Obsessive

Holy crap!

Have you seen this yet!?


Now you have!

Are you screaming!?

I AM!!!

I am totally freaking out! I watched this like eight times in a row! I CANNOT wait! November can't come soon enough in my book. Here are my thoughts after watching this trailer several times.

1. The moment when Effie is pulling out the victors' names in District 12 is beautiful. You can see the change beginning in Effie. She has grown attached to Katniss and Peeta and doesn't want them to die. That moment is poetry in motion.

2. The crazy weird relationship between Peeta and Katniss. Peeta knows through and through he loves her. Katniss loves him too, but just doesn't understand it. You just want to slap her across the face a little and be like, "Can't you just love him back! That would make everything easier!"

3. Rue is growing up. I can't take it!

4. THAT DRESS!!! OMG! So brilliant. Exactly how I pictured Cinna's creation.

5. Haymitch's advice. It's always perfect for the situation.

6. The arena! Did you see that glimpse at the end!? It's going to be amazing and perfect!

Now we need to have a conversation about Jennifer Lawrence. That girl totally rocks my world. I have a huge girl crush on her. She has outstanding acting skills, she doesn't feel the need to be stick skinny to be beautiful, and her personality is hilarious. All I want is to be her best friend. Is that so much to ask!?

Such a great role model!

Why is she so funny/awesome!?

Seriously, though. I think she is so talented. Every movie I see her in she gets better and better and my love and respect for her grows more and more. I am so beyond thankful they cast her as Katniss in these movies. I honestly believe no one else could have done the part justice. It was hers all along.


Good night and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Here It Goes Again

I starting over.

I'm trying again.

This time will be different.

I have made the decision to discontinue my previous blog in favor of a more laid back and all-encompassing blog. It's tough starting over again, but I think this is the best decision for myself and for my readers. While I loved my old blog, it became too much for me to handle. Committing to blogging every single day is kind of like taking on a full time job without pay. At the beginning the blog was what I needed and what I wanted, but towards the end it became a chore to blog. I don't want it to feel like that.

That's why this blog is going to be different. It's going to be less structured. I will blog whenever inspiration strikes me. It won't be planned. It will just happen when you least expect it. The content of my posts will also be a lot more broad. I can write about anything and everything I want to without having to stick to a specific blueprint. That was what I wanted with the old blog and it worked out well for a while, but it doesn't work anymore. It's time for a change.

I'm ready for that change.

Are you?

Buckle up. It's going to be one hell of a ride.