The Daily Raw - August 25, 2023 - Friday

I was wrong thinking the heat would be gone today. The heat advisory lasts until tonight so this morning is still very warm.

 

 
I normally take a Pilates class on Friday but the Y is closed this week so I took a bike class instead and followed that up with a Peloton Pilates session. I’ve decided I don’t care for the Pilates content available on the peloton app - I’ll do my own workout in the future.

 

 
I have 3 eggplants ready to harvest! They are very nice to eat - sautéed in olive oil. I watched a cooking video last night that uses fried zucchini as a pasta sauce base. I plan to try that in the coming weeks.

 

 
I ended up making baba ganoush with the eggplants - very tasty.

 

 
I went to see the movie, Gran Turismo with Jill - based on true events about Nissan Corporation sponsoring the GT academy, plucking racing video gamers and putting them in real race cars. Our protagonist loves race cars and races them within the realm of the video game. He gets access to the GT academy, wins the grueling race and enters the pro race circuit.

 

 
I’m not a racing fan and the whole concept of driving a performance vehicle at super high speeds around a winding course terrifies me. But I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The characters were well developed and well acted. I appreciated the great cinematography - sweeping views of the race track coupled with drivers’ view of the experience. Elements of video game notifications displayed on the screen, melding reality with the gamer’s experience. Some viewers might give criticism to the formulaic plot (lots of Karate Kid feels) but it is a feel good, over coming adversary, getting redemption, overcoming the odds to reach your dreams.

 

 
The official Trailer to the movie. The soundtrack is pretty kick ass, too.

 

Read more...

Five Favorite Things - Pitch Perfect 2

This post is like, 3 weeks late! I saw the movie the weekend it premiered, wrote part of this post, then "life" (birthdays, graduation activities, parties, out of town visitors, end of school, etc) got in the way.... I also wanted to include little YouTube snippets, but found nothing (probably due to copyright issues). I'm hitting the Publish button now, before even more time passes....

Being a former collegiate a cappella singer (gosh, doesn’t that sound official and even slightly important, even though it’s not!), I’ve been anticipating the sequel to one of my favorite movies covering the a cappella “scene”, and caught Pitch Perfect 2 on its opening weekend. Even though the movie was predictable and borrowed many elements from the first movie (the Riff-Off, a singing competition), I still enjoyed it. The movie featured amazing vocal arrangements, instrument-free performances and funny jokes about the genre.

Here’s my list of Five Things I loved about Pitch Perfect 2:

1. Old School A cappella songs – like Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. Yup, my college group (a mixed group), sang this classic. When the competition is “upping the game” by going bigger, badder and simply crazy, sometimes it’s best to return to what is simple.

2. Using a song as a metaphor for taking risk and breaking the rules. In the movie, the Bellas decide to perform an Original Song, a departure from traditional a cappella. This feature song, Flashlight, wins over the crowd and judges. And here is a bit of a cappella trivial – Sara Bareilles’ original song Gravity was performed by her a cappella group, UCLA’s Awaken a Cappella back in 2004.

3. The performances at the World Championship of a cappella – proving that music breaks down barriers. These performances included diverse musicians – The Penn Masala, The Filharmonic, The Singboks and Pentatonix.

4. Seeing the Green Bay Packers sing an a cappella arrangement of Bootylicious during the Riff Off. Who knew Clay Matthews could sing?

5. The chorus of Flashlight, performed with Bella Alumni. This took me by surprise, but is a real tradition in the a cappella community. I still get invitations to sing with my college group (and did so a couple years back at a Graduation ceremony). We are all bound together by the music.

Chorallaries, Past and Present

College a cappella is a wonderful activity to get involved with. I make a point to attend local performances of the University of Illinois groups, like No Comment below


Shared with Five on Friday

Read more...

Begin Again

I willfully sat down last Saturday (maybe two Saturday's ago - I've lost track) and actually watched a full length movie at home. (those who know me realize this is quite a feat - I don't sit down for long periods of time at home, unless I'm napping) The movie that successfully captured my attention - Begin Again, a music centric story of a washed up, mid-life crisis record executive who reclaims his life while helping an indie singer-songwriter record music in the streets of New York.

Begin Again stars Keira Knightley as the singer, and yes, she actually sings in the movie. She plays Gretta, a songwriter who comes to New York with her singer boyfriend, who is on the cusp of commercial stardom. She finds herself on the outside as her partner (played by Adam Levine) is swept away by the music industry machine. Mark Ruffalo plays the record executive, a drunkard louse, who sees potential in Gretta's stripped down, acoustic songs.

I thoroughly enjoy the movie, bought the soundtrack and now share some of it with you. I love the melodies and lyrics, but mostly the simplicity of the performances - there's real joy seen here.



Lost Stars, performed by Keira Knightley

Please, don't see
Just a girl caught up in dreams
And fantasies

Please, see me
Reaching out for someone
I can't see

Take my hand
Let's see where we wake up tomorrow
Best laid plans
Sometimes are just a one night stand

I'll be damned
Cupid's demanding back it's arrow
So let's get drunk on our tears

And God, tell us the reason
Youth is wasted on the young
It's hunting season
And the lambs are on the run

Searching for meaning
But are we all lost stars
Trying to light up the dark

What does it take to Begin Again? Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom, other times you need to take a chance. Most importantly, you have to know yourself and "to thine self, be true".

Read more...

The Fault In Our Stars

I went and saw "The Fault In Our Stars" last Friday. This was a last minute, serendipitous outing - my son and his friends made plans to "go to the movies" and I assumed they were going to see "Transformers" (a group of teen boys - seemed logical to me). An hour before the movie's start, I learned they planned to see "The Fault in Our Stars", so I decided to join them and friend Jill, who was the evening's chauffeur.

Of course, Jill and I sat far away from our sons, and thus started the biggest cry-fest of my movie-going career. Wow, I could have gone through an entire box of tissues...[Instead, I found myself wishing I picked up more napkins from the snack bar]. Words cannot describe the gamut of emotions that coursed through my brain, heart and soul. And I was glad to have experienced it. The movie made me think and ponder - what actions I would take if I were faced with the inevitability of a young death? I would certainly take more risks, speak my mind more, after all what would you have to lose? But why should our actions be any different because of our "normal" lives? Aren't all of our days numbered? What should I be doing differently, right now? Something to think about.

I subsequently found the movie's soundtrack, downloaded it and cried some more. The title track, All of the Stars by Ed Sheeran is simply beautiful, haunting and heartbreaking. The official video features inspirational sayings that compliment the song.



Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I am considering reading the book now, just to take in the wonderful prose and yes, to cry some more....

It's just another night and I'm staring at the moon
I saw a shooting star and thought of you
I sang a lullaby by the waterside and knew
If you were here, I'd sing to you

You're on the other side
As the skyline splits in two
Miles away from seeing you

But I can see the stars from America
I wonder, do you see them too?

So open your eyes and see
The way our horizons meet
And all of the lights will lead
Into the night with me
And I know these scars will bleed
But both of our hearts believe
All of these stars will guide us home

I can hear your heart on the radio beat
They're playing "Chasing Cars" and I thought of us
Back to the time you were lying next to me
I looked across and fell in love

So I took your hand
Back through lamp-lit streets and knew
Everything led back to you

So can you see the stars over Amsterdam?
Hear the song my heart is beating to

So open your eyes and see
The way our horizons meet
And all of the lights will leave
Into the night with me
And I know these scars will bleed
But both of our hearts believe
All of these stars will guide us home

And oh
And oh
And oh whoa
I can see the stars from America

If you don't mind crying during a movie, I recommend seeing it. You'll remember what it was like to fall in love again, that fear should not transcend action, and even amidst a season of loss, life goes on.

Read more...

London Times | Harry Potter Studios

Last year, friends of ours posted photos of their visit to the Harry Potter Studios outside London. Seeing the photo of them seated in Hogwarts' Great Dining Hall, I knew I had to visit if given the chance. That opportunity presented itself when we arranged the trip to London.

The Harry Potter Studio Tour is not an amusement park - this is the movie studio where the Harry Potter movies were shot. The tour takes you behind the scenes to the actual sets, props and costumes used to film these magical movies. Through the interactive displays, you learn how much work and how many people it takes to create the end result - that a huge ensemble of creative people and artists all play a part in these series of movies.

The Studio is located in Leavesden, a small town 20 miles north west of London. To take the Studio Tour, you must book tickets in advance - you pick an available date and time via their website and all you have to do it make sure you get to the site 20-30 minutes before your allotted time. We opted to travel via high speed train - traveling from the Euston Rail station to Watford Junction. From Watford Junction, a tour bus runs every 15 minutes to take you to the Studio. We purchased our rail tickets at the ticket office in Euston the morning of our tour - the tellers are very helpful and set you up with the least expensive, most flexible rail tickets for your party.

We arrived at the Studio right on time for our scheduled tour and made our way through the queue. One waiting room later, we entered a theatre where a short film introducing the Studio tour was shown. You can feel the anticipation in the crowd at this point when the theatre screen is lifted, revealing a huge set of double doors. If it is your birthday, you get to open the doors! The doors open up to the Great Hall. And for any Harry Potter fan, it is amazing.

The long, oak tables - all set for the feast:




Each Hogwarts House is represented:



At this point, you are free to roam through the studio at your pace. As the studio limits the number of tickets sold, it never feels crowded - this is so very important because there is so much to take in.

The Headmaster's office:


Potion's Class:


Umbridge's Office:


The Magic is Might Statue from the Deathly Hallows:


The girls in the Flying Car:


Yes, there's Butterbeer available for purchase at the refreshment stand. It tastes like a butterscotch cream soda. Very nice after a long morning of travel and exploring the Studio.

You get to pass through Diagon Alley:


The final exhibit room contains the scale model of Hogwarts Castle and its grounds. The model was used to film the sweeping scenes in the movies.

While I took my time examining the model, I experienced a blessing - I witnessed the response of school aged children as they first entered the room, seeing the Hogwarts model for the first time. Their sheer excitement and wonderment simply made me happy. It's no wonder why this series has captured the heart of children, young and old.



I highly recommend this tour to any Harry Potter fan. Including travel, it will fill an entire day and it is totally worth it.

Read more...

Opening Day

We interrupt the Cruise vacation posts with a live report from the final Harry Potter movie midnight opening.

I don't know what possessed me to agree to take Erica and her friend tonight. She asked me when we were on vacation, so that probably has something to do with it.

So, as I am waiting for midnight to roll around, I got to thinking about the last time I attended a midnight movie premiere. Wow - I had to go all the way back to 1989, the summer after I graduated from college, hanging out in Boston before starting my "real life after college".

The movie - Batman, starring Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson and Kim Basinger

Now that I think about it, that was the only midnight premiere I've ever attended until tonight. And the kids get to experience their first tonight.....

....several hours later.....

And now we're back from the crowds at the theatre - a packed house, for sure!
The only photo I managed to capture tonight - Brian waiting for the movie to start:


The movie was really good - wrapped things up nicely, and explained all that confusing stuff with the Elder wand.

I need to get to sleep! See the movie in 3D - it's worth it.

Read more...

Movie Night - Water For Elephants

On Tuesday night, I met up with nine others from our neighborhood book club for a weekday night out at the movies. If a book we've read makes it to the big screen, we try to see together. This provides us with another reason to get together more than just once a month! And watching movies with this group of ladies is always amusing.

Tonight's movie, Water For Elephants, adapted from Sara Gruen's book. This was the first book I read as a new member of the book club, back in September, 2008. And since I was a new member, I actually read the book (and we discussed it!).

For the most part, the movie adaptation follows the book (although there is one scene where Jacob and Marlena jump off the train together - that wasn't in the book). The circus scenes convey the wonder of the Big Top, the animals and performers. Behind the illusion of the circus, we are reminded of the desperation of people during the great depression and prohibition. But the real star of the movie, Rosie the elephant is a beautiful, regal animal - her character comes through and she steals the show.

If you are considering seeing this movie, I suggest seeing it on the big screen - to see the animals and the grandeur of the circus performances, along with the scenes of the circus train moving along foggy countryside at night. Beautiful.

After the movie, we caught a light dessert / glass of wine at a local wine bar.

Originally, I was just going to head home, but a glass of wine sounded nice. That and some bread topped off a nice evening.

Read more...

182/365 - Eclipse

It's another hot day today, which means we all hang out inside, lazing about.
I ran early this morning, and even the coolest part of the day felt so hot and humid. Thankfully, due to the lack of recent rain, I found many lawn sprinklers along my route, which cooled me down.

But all that early morning running left me tired in the afternoon and I did something I rarely do - I took a long (2 hour) nap, only to be woken up to go to see the movie of the weekend - Eclipse.



The movie was decent, although Eclipse was my favorite book out of the Twilight Series, due to the cooperation between the "clans". A nice way to spend a hot summer's afternoon.

Read more...

79/365 - New Moon DVD

I couldn't let the weekend pass without highlighting the DVD we bought Saturday afternoon. No, we didn't go to the midnight premiere parties [we're too old]. We subsequently watched two times on Saturday and once on Sunday.



And we're still "Team Jacob" here. Erica still prefers Edward in the books, but prefers Jacob in the movie.

Read more...

45/365 - Afternoon at the Movies

And today's movie choice - Percy Jackson and the Olympians - The Lightning Thief.


picture taken outside the movie theatre

The verdict - enjoyable, but different from (what I remember of) the book. Maybe I should re-read it now.

We met up with two other families. I sat with Jill and Kim while Brian and his friends sat all the way up front in the first row.

Read more...

36/365 - Movie Night

Friday night has increasingly become "social night" for Erica and her group of friends, who manage to attend some sort of gathering together. Tonight, the venue was the movie theatre, even with the snow storm and opening day crows. They went to see "Dear John" and each admitted to crying during the movie.



I felt fortunate that we have a 4 wheel drive SUV with tonight's snow accumulation and subsequent blowing and drifting. I drove out to the horse stables in the Toyota Corolla, and nearly ended up in the ditch! Winter is certainly still with us.

Read more...

200/365 - HP and the Half Blood Prince

We went to see the 4:30 showing of the newest Harry Potter movie. We have been waiting for a long time, especially since the studio moved the release date from November, 2008 to yesterday.

We enjoyed the movie, even though there were some deviations from the book (as expected). A great set up for the 7th and 8th movies.

Read more...