I'm drifting without an anchor

name change

2009-11-05T15:33:58Z

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.

Tess of the D'Ubervilles

2009-11-03T02:15:09Z

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.

I loved this book and the mini-series. Hardy really points out hypocrisy in society, especially in what people believed over 100 years ago. Tess was victimized by almost everyone she meets, yet people look down on her as if the actions of those people were her own fault. I don't know how many people read the book, but Tess is raped by Alec, the people in town scorn her, her own mother practically sells her back to her rapist, and her husband, the one she truly loves, Angel, abandons her when he finds out she was raped. It such a sad, but beautiful story.

On a side note: I don't understand how people can argue that Tess was seduced, not raped. Granted, in the novel Hardy wasn't really able to write a detailed rape scene. In fact, the book was censored back when it was first published, I read. But Tess is sleeping right before the rape. Alec leaves her in the woods beforehand to search the area for any familiar markers - they are lost - and when he returns she's sleeping. He decides that while she's sleeping, it's perfectly okay to get on top of her and do his thing. How the hell is that seduction?

Hardy's writing is very poetic. So poetic that at times I had no idea what he was saying. He also alludes to things in religion and mythology that I'm not familiar with, which made reading a little difficult. However, it's a good thing I read the novel and saw the mini-series simultaneously because that really helped me when it came to visuals.

I think the characters are all realistic. No one is perfect in the story. And it's interesting to read how everyone's choices lead to Tess' demise. She really has no control over her destiny.

The mini-series follows the book very closely. The only changes made, I feel, were made for the better. The changes in the mini-series made the story more dramatic. For instance, at the end of Episode 2 (there are four altogether), Tess writes a note to the guy she loves - Angel - telling him all about her past. She slips the note under his door. In the morning, she believes he's fine with her confession because he's not treating her any differently. However, she discovers that the letter was never opened. She finds it under the doormat and doesn't have the nerve to tell him what the letter says.
Even some of the arguments were more dramatic in the mini-series: like when Angel finally finds out the truth and when Alec crosses paths with Tess for the second time and he won't leave her alone. I think the actors all did a great job and that's why the arguments were fun to watch.

Now, on a totally shallow note, my only qualm (with the mini-series) is Tess' attraction to Angel v. Alec. I'm not talking about the guys' actions or personalities because if that's the only factor, Angel is clearly the better choice: both in the movie and book. However, look-wise, I personally find the actor who played Alec to be more attractive than the actor who played Angel. So when Tess rejected Alec time and time again and developed an attraction to Angel as soon as she saw him, I was left thinking, What? Him? Why? How could she not like Alec?" I guess Tess saw Alec as the guy he truly was: a creepy, emotionally and physically abusive, controlling, stalking rapist and that's why she knew to stay away and wasn't attracted to him. But yea, even though Angel wasn't physically attractive, and I don't understand why Tess loved him (I know, I know, shallow), the actors were perfectly casted. I believed them in the roles.

A Steady Rain

2009-10-18T02:29:02Z

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.

return

2009-10-10T20:41:41Z

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

vacation

2009-09-24T13:01:28Z

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

material girl

2009-09-19T14:49:37Z

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.

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies

2009-09-18T23:33:51Z

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.

New computer

2009-08-23T20:36:15Z

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:

my birthday

2009-08-20T23:48:40Z

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.

500 Days of Summer

2009-08-16T23:39:24Z

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.

There was a short part in the movie where Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) just got lucky, and he does a choreographed dance down the street. And when he looks in a car window, he sees himself as Han Solo - LOL.

I loved the costumes in the film, too. They were very 1960s-like and I want them.

Best Line
Tom: She took a big shit on my face...literally.
Girl: Literally?
Tom: Well, no, not literally. That's disgusting. What's wrong with you?

I laughed so much after that

Man On Wire

2009-08-03T01:08:52Z

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/

The Little Mermaid

2009-07-25T22:53:51Z

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.

First of all, the costumes were sooooo pretty. Flotsam and Jetsam had on costumes that lit up. And during "Under the Sea," there were so many beautiful sea creatures. Sebastian also had a really nice costume.

I loved the moment when Ariel turned into a human. She lifted up into the air and the fin fell off. And now I want to dye my hair red. She had the nicest wig.

There were changes to the ending. A lot of changes, but I didn't mind. For example. Ursula isn't killed by Eric's ship. Instead, Ariel breaks a shell that Ursula gets her powers from. And Ursula doesn't change into that brunette girl or puts Eric under a spell. And songs were added, but I was so glad to hear the familiar movie songs. I mouthed the words when they sang.

I think my favorite musical number was "Kiss the Girl." It was a big production and I liked seeing the whole stage full.

I also had an amazing seat, so I got to see everything without heads in my way and I got to see the actors faces. Eric was kind of cute.

I was disappointed that the play ended. I wish it wasn't closing in August so I could go back.

Thank you so much, haydens_angel81 for the wonderful birthday present.

I GOT IT!

2009-07-24T14:08:12Z

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.

I am currently obsessed with...

2009-07-21T17:06:46Z

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!

rentsgirl @ 2009-07-05T19:33:00

2009-07-05T23:45:05Z

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

my mom

me

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.

Videos from Remember Me set

2009-07-04T15:26:40Z

Emilie rehearses a scene

You can see Emilie get out of the car and then go up the stairs in this video

Emilie and Rob talking to each other between filming a scene

Emilie and Rob filming a scene

My sister haydens_angel81 got a better video of Rob & Emilie leaving the set, so I'm posting hers.

July 2 - Remember Me

2009-07-04T00:22:54Z

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

I arrived at the set (Waverly Place & Washington Square East) around 1 PM (maybe a little earlier) and there were already a lot of people. I overheard some people saying they'd been there since 6 AM...crazy. Emilie was filming a scene with Chris Cooper over and over again. She was in the car with him, they talked, and then she got out of the car and waved good-bye to him before going into the building. Anytime they weren't filming, Emilie would sit in the car with Chris. I contemplated moving closer to the car, but I didn't want to risk losing an okay space. I stayed put until they wrapped that scene. When they wrapped, Emilie hugged some random guy and I wanted to get a photo of her hugging the dude I didn't recognize, but she's fast (she disappeared real quick) and my shutter speed is slow.

Then they set up for another scene and had to move the fans to another area because we would've been in the shot. They wanted the fans to move behind barracades across the street, but I instead went to the park underneath trees. It was a pretty good area, too. That's when it started to rain A LOT. All the fans ran to a cafe nearby while the extras/crew ran inside a building.

I had some lunch and when the rain cleared, I went to the trailers. Only some fans were there, surprisingly. It didn't take long for Rob to come out of the trailer and then Emilie (Emilie changed her costume). Fans were pissed that Rob didn't acknowledge them, but Emilie did wave. I was trying to get my camera on and take photographs. Emilie and Rob are so fast, I didn't get anything, and now I realize I should've taken video. Ugh, I'm so mad at myself.

So then I walked back to the spot I had before the rain (in the trees) and while going there Emilie and Rob were standing so close and they hugged each other. I stopped walking and tried to get a photo, but the crew was like, "Miss, you have to keep walking." I snapped something real quick and it turns out to be a photo only of Rob.

So many people were in the park area, stepping on plants to get photos of Rob. The crew said to them, "Please, stop stepping on the plants, you're not crazy people."

I watched as Emilie and a friend rehearsed/filmed a scene where they're walking out of a building. Again, they rehearsed/filmed the scene a bunch of times. It was really annoying because my camera's battery was depleting. Sometimes it'd shut off on me. One time when Emilie was filming the scene with her friend, she did this cute little turn which I wish I got video of. She was so animated, it was cute.

THEN the rain came AGAIN. And I don't mean a drizzle. I mean like a crap load of rain. The crew went back inside and I ran to Starbucks to wash mud off my legs.

Originally, filming was supposed to end at 4 PM, but with the rain I figured they'd end later. I texted my sister and told her to come to the set after work.

When I returned to set, soooo many people were waiting outside Rob's trailer. I didn't bother to go there, but I did hear screams when he came out and people started running to inside the park. I waited for my sister to arrive before I got a spot in the park. We watched as Emilie and Rob rehearsed/filmed a scene where he runs up to her and her friend as they're walking and then (I guess?) pulls her away and they talk.

(sorry some are blurry. My battery was dead and they kept moving)

That was the last thing they filmed for the day. While watching them film this scene, this guy next to me kepy saying, "I want to meet Emilie. Everyone else is here for Rob, but I want to meet Emilie. I want to give her a hug." I felt like turning around and saying, "Honey, I'm here for Emilie, too," but I didn't.

So when filming was done (around 6:15-6:30ish), sis and I waited outside the trailers. It started to rain FOR A 3rd TIME! It rained A LOT. Sis and I left the trailer and went to the cafe across the street where we had dinner. When the rain stopped, we walked back to the trailer. By this time the crowd really did die down. It wasn't until 8 PM when Rob/Emilie came out of the trailer. The crew told us, "Don't yell and don't push." The thing that annoyed me is that when Emilie/Rob came out, they didn't even turn to us or come over. We were completely ignored after waiting in the rain. I understand they were tired after filming all day, but to not even look at us was wrong. They got into a car and drove away after that.

please don't post these photo anywhere else

videos coming soon

No Doubt

2009-06-27T04:19:54Z

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.

dinner

2009-06-21T23:03:43Z

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

It's fitting of my current situation.

i turn my camera on

2009-06-19T17:06:53Z

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

can I not do anything for a day?

2009-06-13T22:30:21Z

I had a busy week.

Sunday I went to a concert, Monday was a movie screening, Thursday and Friday I volunteered, and today I went to the NY Botanical Garden - the rain totally ruined my time there. I'm so tired and I want just one day where I don't do anything but sleep.

I caved...

2009-05-30T17:20:47Z

I paid for an LJ account. Screw not having money - I wanted one. I like not having to deal with ads and the extra userpics are so nice.

I think I may change my layout soon, too.

angels & demons

2009-05-24T21:31:41Z

I liked the movie. I like movies that have mystery in them and where characters have to connect the dots.

But the end....DID NOT LIKE.

How can Ewan's character have been the bad guy?!? I was so sad when he went up in the helicopter and I thought he'd die. I got excited when he parachuted out of there and thought he should be pope. Then to find out HE was the bad guy? No. The movie ends for me when Ewan saves everyone.

paid account

2009-05-08T04:29:42Z

My paid account expires soon :( Damn a year goes fast. I don't think I can renew because of my current situation. I have to be very cheap. Bye bye icons *waves good-bye*

Adventureland

2009-05-05T03:38:35Z

I saw Adventureland tonight with a friend and my sister. It was hysterical! The 80s fashion alone was hysterical. If anyone has a chance to see it, you should. I was entertained.