A very long time ago I wrote about wanting to change my username. I just dislike how my current name has "girl" in it. I could never think of a name, but after reading Tess of the D'Ubervilles, and liking it, I was thinking the name blighted_star could be interesting - it's mentioned in the book in a scene I really enjoyed. It's not fandomy, I think, but does it sound too depressing or girly? I still don't have $$ to change the name, but it's an option. So opinions, please.

Book v. Mini-series





Synopsis
Tess Durbeyfield knows what it is to work hard and expect little. But her life is about to veer from the path trod by her mother and grandmother. When her ne'er-do-well father learns that his family is the last of a long noble line, the d'Urbervilles, he sends Tess on a journey to meet her supposed kin- a journey that will see her victimized by lust, poverty, and hypocrisy. With its sensitive depiction of one of literature's most admirable and tragic heroines and its powerful criticism of social convention, Tess of the D'Urbervilles is one of the most moving and poetic of Thomas Hardy's novels.

( Why is it that every character named Tess has the most horrible life imaginable?: Spoilers )

My sister haydens_angel81 birthday was yesterday. My present to her was tickets to the Broadway play A Steady Rain starring Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig.

It was a fantastic play. I've never seen a play that wasn't a musical before, so I didn't know what to expect. The play dealt with tough themes like racism, but most of all it was about family and what we'll do for them. Hugh Jackman's character - Denny - went to extremes to protect his family.

In the play, anything that could go wrong did go wrong. It was sad, but also riveting watching Hugh and Daniel (Denny and Joey) narrate/act out everything that happened.

I'm very impressed with Hugh and Daniel's performances. It takes a lot of talent for two people, with barely any sets and no other actors, to get an audience invested in a story. I think the play could work well as a movie, too.

I won't give away the ending, but it's amazing how events can connect and how one poor choice after another can have devastating consequences.

After the play, sis and I were waiting by the stage door.

I had seen Hugh in "A Boy From Oz," but our seats weren't that great, so he was small. And we didn't go to the stage door. This time, we had much better seats AND we did wait by the stage door. I got to see both Hugh and Daniel after the play. They were about 2 feet away. You have no idea how giddy I was.

Here is the video:
(courtesy of my sister)


Sis got both their autographs



And us by the theater


I hope Hugh does Broadway again.

I am back from my super duper vacation. There's so much to catch up on and lots of photos to share.

I'm going away for 2 weeks on a European cruise. I'll be back with lots of photos.

Today I will go shopping for clothes. I'm going on a 2 week vacation and need things to wear. I hope clothes actually fit.

I finished reading Pride & Prejudice & Zombies. And I loved it.




I didn't think I'd like it because I didn't like the real novel too much. It's strange how I didn't love the original book that much because I absolutely love the movie (Keira Knightley version). It's strange that I love P&P&Z also because it's not like it's drastically different from the original text. It's written in the same style.

Anyway, P&P&Z was ridiculously hysterical. I read the first chapter in the book store and I knew I'd love it.

Some parts were quite naughty. I wonder what Jane Austen would think of this:

She remembered the lead ammunition in her pocket and offered it to him. 'Your balls, Mr. Darcy?' He reached out and closed her hand around them, and offered, 'They belong to you, Miss Bennet.'" -- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies pg 205.

So yea, it's a fun read. I don't know if Jane Austen purists would like it, but I would read it again.

After a whole year of wanting a new computer and constantly saying I'd get one, I finally did. My old school computer had virus messages popping up and I was so sick and tired of having to constantly go to my school to get it fixed. So today I got myself a Mac Book Pro 15"

I am soooo excited. It's so pretty. I'm especially happy that I was able to buy it with my own money. It's the biggest gift I ever got for myself.

here's a photo:

Today is my birthday. Birthdays aren't what they used to be. It feels like any other day. I went to work, got myself a yummy cupcake, and now I'm home.

And I don't even feel a year older.

I saw 500 Days of Summer today and really liked it. There were a lot of funny parts/dialog and I think the characters/situations were very realistic. The ending isn't typical, but I was happy with the ending.

( spoilers )

I just watched a documentary about Philippe Petit. He walked on a wire from one World Trade Center to another on August 7, 1974.




Watching this was both nerve-wracking and exciting. One false step and that's the end. He is absolutely crazy, but I couldn't turn away. It was really interesting hearing about all the preparation and how people actually agreed to help him break the law.

It was also sad to see all the footage of the WTC. They were beautiful buildings.

I don't normally watch documentaries, but this one was on an interesting subject. I wonder if the guy who climbs buildings was inspired by him.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1155592/

As an early birthday present haydens_angel81 took me to see The Little Mermaid on Broadway. I love the Disney movie so much. It's the first movie I ever saw in the movie theater, so it's very special to me. When I was a kid, my sister and I used to pretend we were mermaids.




( Now we can walk. Now we can run. Now we can stay all day in the sun... )

I got a call today from the place I interviewed at about a week ago and I GOT THE JOB!!!

I'm very excited.

My start date is August 3rd.

100 Monkeys.

I keep listening to their songs over and over. In early June, I went to their concert and I want them to come back to NY so bad! They are extremely talented and really deserve more attention. During their concert, the boys kept switching instruments. At one point one person was playing the base, another the drums, a keyboard, and guitar. Then, they'd switch. How many bands do you know where the members can play ALL instruments?

And they improvise songs during their concerts.

This song: "That's What She Said" is improvised.



I think the beat is so sexy.

This one is called Orson Brawl. This is the concert I was at.



so much fun!

It was a gorgeous day today and I went to a park to test out my new camera. This is the result.

( pictures )

I'm still getting used to the camera. Some photos were blurry, so I didn't post those. But I'm happy with the ones I took.

Emilie rehearses a scene



( more under the cut )

Yesterday, I spent my time on the "Remember Me" set and I got to see Robert Pattinson and Emilie de Ravin filming scenes.

( My experience + photos )

The No Doubt concert was awesome!!! They really know how to get a crowd on their feet.

When I got to the concert, it was sunny and it was hot. Then, just as we were all let into the venue, Mother Nature decided to spit on us BIG TIME. For the whole damn night my pants were soaked, my socks/feet/sneakers, and my shirt. My hair was soaked and I just felt gross. But feeling crappy was totally worth it.

Paramore opened up. They were great, but I only knew the song "Decode," which they closed with.

And then No Doubt came on and I sang along all night. I was so glad to hear all the songs I wanted to hear.

Their set list (not in order):
Bathwater
Different People
Don't Speak
End It On This
Ex-Girlfriend
Excuse Me Mr.
Hella Good
Hey Baby
It's My Life
Just A Girl
New
Rock Steady
Running
Simple Kind Of Life
Spiderwebs
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning
Tragic Kingdom (only a snippet since someone requested it for her Birthday)
Underneath It All

I want to go to another concert soooo bad.

"Every exit is an entrance to new experiences" - my fortune cookie.

It's fitting of my current situation.

I got a new camera today because the other one I had wouldn't turn on. I've wanted a new/better camera for a long time. I got a Nikon L100 and will be testing it out, so maybe I'll post the photos I take in the future. I have to get used to the functions, but the camera is SO pretty.

Look how pretty





Shot with P 25