Let The 20s Roar (Part 1)

Who is excited about the Electro Swing Soiree happening tonight??  THIS GIRL!  To celebrate the release of the new "The Great Gatsby" movie (see the trailer at the bottom of this post), the venue where I swing dance every week is hosting parties tonight and tomorrow in grand style!  There will be photos of course, and I've done a tutorial/process of how I did my costume.  YES, I'm going in costume.  You knew it was only a matter of time before I got something 1920s together! :D :D :D

But you can't see that yet!  Not until I have danced until I drop, recovered, and uploaded photos of everything.

But here's a clip of some Electro Swing to keep you happy until then.  It's a half hour long, so you can pick however much you want to hear, but I promise it's catchy!  Just let it play in the background as you clean the house or whatever and it makes whatever you're doing more fun x 100! :)
So much Lindy Hopping will be happening in the next 5 or 6 hours... :)

The Great Gatsby Movie:

So True...

Disclaimer: I found this whilst doing costume and character development research for Dragon Con, that eventually derailed into link-chasing on YouTube. (I'm honest.)  I do NOT listen to, nor do I advocate, the music of the band LMFAO.  Note that some of the lyrics in this clip are PG13.  You know that I strive to keep this blog 99.9% family friendly.  Just please understand that with the Marvel/Iron Man kick I've been on recently, and how well this fits the superheroes (and their egos), it was just way too good to not share! :)  (Especially the ending!)

"Storm": Appropriate Background Music

I heard this on the "Man of Steel" trailer recently.  While I love Marvel more than DC, I'm looking forward to seeing it (if only because it is Hans Zimmer's newest score- even if he didn't write this piece I'm featuring today).

This Music Monday brings you "Storm", a GORGEOUS track from the OST of "Elizabeth: The Golden Age", starring the amazing and ethereally beautiful Kate Blanchett.  I didn't get to see the film in its entirety, but I got to see enough clips to know that she more than deserved the awards she garnered for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I.

This is some of what is playing in the background for me today as I tackle laundry, paperwork, sewing, housework, errands, and life in general.  I hope it inspires you as it does me.

Enjoy. :)

Geeking out. Again.

THIS.

It was the first PG 13 movie I ever saw.  Dad took me, and it's one of the best memories I have.  We saw it 8 times in the theater.

Seeing it in 3D was utterly worth the 20 year wait! LOL
It was awesome!  I plan to see it in the theater a few more times before it leaves.
Geeky happiness.  :)

Elfman and Oz

I'm still geeking out over seeing "Oz The Great And Powerful" on Saturday night.  It. Was. SPECTACULAR!  I loved every single blessed minute!  (And I'm not even really that much of a Wizard of Oz nut, like some are).

Danny Elfman has always been a brilliant composer.  He's not my top favorite- that still belongs to Hans Zimmer- but he is in the top 5.  This is definitely one of his best scores!  A 25 year working partnership with Tim Burton has majorly fine tuned his already amazing craft.

I'll do a review/more stuff about the film later (because you know Lucy Jane is going to sink her metaphorical teeth into those costumes!), but for now I want you to hear my absolute favorite track from the score.  This is called "Fireside Dance" and it made me cry because it's so sweet and romantic.  Enjoy. :)

Winter Makes Me Sleeeepy!

Anyone else feel like this guy at 6 a.m., after being awake til 1?  Yeah, me too!  I'm off to find the caffeine!!!!

(Anyone else love the charge noise that gives away that Wall-E is made by Apple? :) I'm such a geek.)

Music Monday Double Feature

I read The Hunger Games last year.  Despite a psychologically disturbing main theme (these are kids, people.  Kids.), I enjoyed them.  Really well written.  I resisted seeing the movie when it came out, though.  (See reason above.  Reading it is one thing, but visuals?  No thanks.)  Finally last week I was in the mood to watch something with some adrenaline to it and I knew from the books that the main character's weapon of choice is a bow, so I thought "Meh, why not?"

And I was pleasantly surprised.  I'm a fan of many of the actors, and their renditions of the characters blended seamlessly with what I saw in my head when reading the books.  It kept very well within its PG-13 rating, with the scene which I was most concerned about being very well implied and not too visually graphic.  Nicely done, Gary Ross and Lionsgate!

Here are two of the songs from the soundtrack.  I'm not a Taylor Swift fan, but I like "Safe and Sound".  I also like the folksy feel of "Kingdom Come".  Enjoy.

My Dad Was Cool Like This

If we'd lived in Scotland, this would SO have been my Daddy when Mum and I were butting heads because I was being a stupid teenager.  He would have even made that face at the end.  Awesomeness. :)

After

After a sleepless night (general insomnia), I heard the children wake up for Christmas morning.
After they had come downstairs and gasped with delight over their presents, there was paper everywhere and smiles and laughter and it was wonderful.
After the presents were all open, there was a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast.  Simple, but so good.
After spending time playing games and setting up toys, it was time for them to go to their dad's for his visitation time.  They will be back on Jan. 1st.
After they were gone, the house was too quiet.
After I had lunch and cleaned up the downstairs, I decided to go see Les Miserables.
After I sat down in the theater, someone I hadn't seen in a long time found me and invited me to sit with them.
After the opening overture, I didn't stop crying until the credits rolled.
After the movie, we went to get a bite to eat and catch up on each other's lives for a couple of hours.
After I got home the weather turned downright nasty.  Glad to be snug and safe.
After a good night's sleep, I spent the majority of today job searching and submitting online applications.
After some general blogging, I discovered that my ex married his mistress yesterday.  I thought I would feel something one way or another, or have some sort of response since our divorce was only final Nov 28th, but I didn't.  I don't really care.  Huh.
After I helped my Gran with some stuff she needed, I went back to my job search and was interrupted by 3 different instant messages from good friends wanting to chat.  Gal pal Nikki lives in Savannah and is always ready to tell me how the city looks and what's happening there. I felt loved and cared about. :)
After writing this, I'm ready to go to bed and have a busy, productive, and happy day tomorrow, spending time in prayer, getting caught up on housework, sewing work, more job searching, and writing some long overdue letters.

I'm going to leave you with a great song lyric about "after".  It's by Mumford and Sons.  (Here's the full song if you want to hear it.  I'll likely feature it on a MM sometime later.)

And after the storm
I run and run as the rains come
and I look up, I look up
On my knees and out of luck
I look up...

There will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears
when love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears
Get over your hill and see what you find there
with grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.

Happy Birthday, Jane Austen!

Jane Austen (had she possessed some secret to endless longevity and not died in 1817) would have been 237 years old today!  To celebrate her birthday, I'm having a good cup of tea, a slice of angel food cake, and am cozied up watching the 2005 Kiera Knightly version of Pride and Prejudice.

I'm also posting conversations on the Facebook group I recently created to kick off a project called "A Year With Jane Austen".  A group of friends, who are fellow Janeites, and I are going to season each month of 2013 with reading her works together and discussing them, watching the movie adaptations and discussing/comparing them, sharing recipes and swapping baked goodies like scones and tea recommendations, discussing and sharing stuff on the culture and fashion of the Regency Era, and all sorts of other things related to Jane.  (If you are a fellow Janeite and want to join in the fun, friend request me on Facebook (Jenny Wallace Ray) with a message, and I will add you to the group!  Our "event" for January will be reading "Emma" and discussing it.  I've never facilitated a group or a book club or anything like that before, so I'm sure I won't be perfect, but it's nothing "official".  Just a bunch of Jane Austen fans letting our geek show. :)

I'm going to get back to my movie, but before I do, I thought I would share 10 of my favorite character quotes from film versions of her works with you.  (These are in no particular order, as the movies rotate through my DVD player as though it had a revolving door on it.  I love the books in their entireties far too much to pull any one quote from them.)  Enjoy!

1.  Knightly: "You didn't ask me to contribute a riddle, Emma."
     Emma: "Your entire personality is a riddle, Mr. Knightly; I thought you overqualified."
     (From Emma)

2.  Mrs. Bennett: "He danced the fourth with a Miss King, of little standing, and the fifth again with Jane."
    Mr. Bennett:  "If he'd had any compassion for me, he would have sprained his ankle in the first set."
     (From Pride and Prejudice)

3.  Charlotte Lucas: "Count your blessings, Lizzie!  If he liked you, you'd have to talk to him."
     Elizabeth: "Precisely.  As it is, I would not dance with him for all of Darbyshire, let alone the miserable half."
     (From Pride and Prejudice)

4.  Elinor: "Thank you for your help with Margaret.  She's much changed since you've arrived."
     Edward Ferrars: "Not at all; I enjoy her company.  She's planning an expedition to China shortly, and I'm to go along as her servant.  But only on the understanding that I'm to be very badly treated."
     (Elinor laughs) "And what will your duties be?"
     Edward: "Sword-fighting, obviously; administering rum, and swabbing."
     (From Sense and Sensibility)

5.   Sir Walter Elliot: "I must say, though, the worst of Bath is the number of plain women.  I frequently observe that one pretty face would be followed by five and thirty frights."
     (From Persuasion)

6.  Marianne: "When is a man to be safe from such wit, if age and infirmity do not protect him?"
     Elinor and Mrs. Dashwood together: "Infirmity?!"
     Marianne: "Did you not hear him complain of rheumatism in his shoulder?"
     Elinor: "'A slight ache' I believe was his phrase."
     Mrs. Dashwood: "If Colonel Brandon is infirm, then I am at death's door!"
     Elinor: "It is a miracle your life has extended this far."
     (From Sense and Sensibility)

7.  Fanny Price: "Run mad as often as you choose, but do not faint!"
    (From Mansfield Park)*

8.  Knightly: "I have some news. (slyly) And I know how you like news!"
     Emma (conspiratorially): "Oh, yes, I always like news!"
     (From Emma)

9.   Edmund: "Oh, don't be an imbecile."
      Fanny: "Oh, but imbecility in women is a great enhancement to their personal charms."
      Edmund: "Fanny, you're being irrational!"
      Fanny: "Yet another adornment!  I must be ravishing."
     (From Mansfield Park)

10.  Elizabeth: "Shall I call for some tea?"
       Darcy: "No, thank you."
       (incredibly awkward silence as neither one knows what to say next)
       Darcy (finally rushing out the door): "Good day, Miss Elizabeth.  It's been a pleasure."
       Charlotte (coming in): "What on earth have you done to poor Mr. Darcy?!"
       Elizabeth: "... I have no idea!"
      (From Pride and Prejudice)


*This quote was used in the film version of Mansfield Park, but is actually from a piece of Jane's Juvenilia work called Love and Friendship, written in 1790.

PS- I am (distantly) genealogically related to Jane Austen!  I should find that chart I finally finished that shows the connection and post it soon.... :)

We Like To Hike!

I used to watch this movie with my Grandmother when I was around 10 or 12.  The whole thing is funny, but this (starting at 3:40 on the YouTube video below) was my absolute favorite scene! I'm both grateful and disappointed that I never had a choir conductor quite like him.  :)  Enjoy!

Meanwhile, In The Late Cretaceous...

The score of this could have passed for a Music Monday, but the graphics and imagery are so lovely, I decided to land it on a Video Wednesday.  I adored this when the trailer came out and then was greatly disappointed the moment the dinosaur characters started talking.  Ruined everything.  Oh, well.  There's none of that in this clip, so sit back and enjoy the scene!

He Who Would Pun...

I hadn't seen this in a while and a friend happened to share it on my social streams.  So now I'm sharing it with you.  *Raises glass* To Lord Nelson! (And Russell Crowe.  And Paul Bettany.)

Hugh Are Just Adorable...

We haven't had many puns around here, and I'm officially allowed 2 per day, so I thought I'd spring for one in the title.  You're welcome.  :)

Two of these Hughes were born in England; the other hails from Australia.
All three have speech accents that make my knees go all wobbly.

Hugh Laurie

Hugh Grant 

Hugh Jackman

Two of these Hughes have played Jane Austen characters (in the same film, "Sense and Sensibility"); the other currently has a famous Victor Hugo character, Jean Valjean, being added to his repertoire of "film roles involving/inspired by/related to classic literature".  (PS- if Jackman ever wants to join the "Been a Jane Austen gentleman" club with the other two, I nominate him for either Mr. Darcy, Mr. Knightly, or Captain Wentworth!!!)
All three look amazing in 19th Century period costume.

 

Two of these Hughes are old enough to be my father (Grant and Laurie); the other (Jackman) not quite, but still a good deal older than I am (by 13 years).
All three sing and play piano. (Two play by choice and the other because he had to for a film role.)

 

Two of these Hughes (Jackman and Grant) were born in the fall; the other was born in the summer, the date before my own birthdate. (Hugh Laurie's birthday is June 11th.  Mine is the 12th.)
All three have amassed quite a collection of BAFTA, SAG, Golden Globe, and Emmy nominations and awards among them.  (Total nominations for above awards by the three Hughes = 28... Total wins for above awards by the three Hughes = 7)  (And they have all three won many other kinds of awards as well, I just didn't list them all here.  Go look it up on IMdB and do the math if you want to know a grand total.)

There's your pop culture eye candy for the day.  :)  Which Hugh do you like best?
Hugh are handsome.  Hugh are talented.  I will see Hugh at the movies soon. :)

And Who Doesn't Love Fairies?!

I'm sick with the stomach flu today.  Since about 4 a.m. my insides have been having a terrible row with the rest of my body.  Ugh.  It's cooled off outside quite a lot and really feels like fall.  Overcast and rather windy this morning, so I've made tea and am getting caught up on all my letters and Bible study homework and then tonight after Cute Gremlins are asleep, and also tomorrow afternoon, I will be in the studio with my headphones on, sewing up a storm.

One of the soundtracks that runs through my iTunes at random is Peter Pan, the live action version from  2003 starring Jeremy Sumter (Peter) and Jason Isaacs (Hook).  This is my favorite scene from the film (and, consequently, my favorite track, composed by James Newton Howard).

What little girl in their childhood didn't want to be Wendy in Neverland, flying under a glowing moon and surrounded by fairies?  I know I always did! :)  This version of J.M. Barrie's classic story also has my favorite take on Tinkerbell.  Super expressive and beautiful.  Even if a little jaded by her jealousy.

My Geek is Showing

This showed up on my Facebook newsfeed from a friend today and I'm all giddy now. :)  Are you a Tolkien fan like I am?  Why or why not?

Raise your hand if you giggled out loud at the last scene! :D

Lucy Jane is still working away at a Lady Hobbit outfit to wear when the film comes out.  People who unabashedly show their love and appreciation for creative works by dressing up in costume- what do you think of them?  Cute?  Weird?  Or weird, but in a cute way (OR, cute, but in a weird way?)?  Would you do it?  ARE you going to do it, come December?  Discuss...

12/13/12 UPDATE:  I posted about this on Lucy's blog, but I don't remember if I mentioned it on TMP, so I'll put it here- I tried to get a hobbity costume together for the premiere of this film, but with everything that's been going on personally (see the Dec post titled "Breaking The Silence"), it just didn't happen.  But all will be well.  The Hobbit has now been made as a trilogy and I think it would be just as fitting and proper to attend the finale film in costume as it would have been to go to this one all done up.  It turns out better, actually, because now I have a bit more time to up the ante on my skills and really get some practice work at corsetry under my belt (HA!) before completing a full out hobbit costume.  So, yay for borrowed time! XD

I'll still be going to see this one Friday night.  Caaaaannnnnn'tttt wwwaaaaaaiiiiiiitt!! :) :) :)

Ahoy, Matey!

Arrrrr!!!! Avast, me Hearties!  Today be International Talk Like A Pirate Day!  Whether ye be chartin' a course through the perilous sea o' traffic on the interstates, or swabbing the decks and spit shinin' yer vessel at home port (translation: housework and laundry at home. Though with very young buccaneers underfoot, it may well be more "spit" and less "shine".), raise yer glass o' grog and enjoy the spirit of the day!  As it be Wednesday, I thought this series of High Seas Hijinks were in order.  Hoist the Colors and weigh anchor!

I ♥ Pixar More Than Ever Before

Before I launch into today's Video Wednesday, let me offer this friendly PSA:

PUT DOWN WHATEVER DRINK YOU MIGHT HAVE IN YOUR HAND.  RIGHT NOW.  I DON'T WANT TO BE HELD LIABLE WHEN YOU RUIN YOUR SINUSES AND/OR COMPUTER SCREEN BECAUSE YOU LAUGH SO HARD, WHATEVER YOU WERE DRINKING MAKES AN ABRUPT AND UNPLANNED DETOUR THROUGH YOUR NOSTRILS.  (AS I MENTIONED BEFORE IN A POST BACK IN EARLY APRIL, MILK IS MODERATELY PAINFUL, BUT SODAS BURN.)  OH, AND YOU MAY AS WELL TAKE A POTTY BREAK BEFORE PRESSING PLAY, SO YOU DON'T KILL YOUR BLADDER MUSCLES WHILST YOU ARE DOUBLED OVER IN HYSTERICS.  THANK YOU.

Oh, mercy.  I needed this SO bad!  *Wipes tears from eyes, still holding sides*

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it!!

Sometimes my train of thought derails at the speed of light (usually with no survivors).  Every once in a while though, one of of those tangents leads to a phenomenal discovery of which I had been previously ignorant, and the newly unearthed epiphany thereof leaves me squealing with glee and/or babbling incoherently about aforementioned phenomenal discovery to anyone and everyone who is brave enough to stick around and attempt to decipher what I'm saying.  (Such event is happening even as my fingers fly over the keyboard now, so if you've managed to follow the content of what I've just written thus far, CONGRATULATIONS!  You win! :D)

For those of you who are looking around for the evidence of a caffeine overdose, relax.  You won't find anything.  Blame my iTunes for this latest bouncing around the room like a ping pong ball in a hurricane effect.  I had it on shuffle.  It came to "Seize The Day" from the movie Newsies.  I Googled Newsies just to see what came up.  It's not caffeine.  It's the music!  Music does this to me!  Phenomenal discoveries of music I love being turned into better versions of themselves in the form of BROADWAY MUSICALS!!!

THIS

IS NOW THIS!!!!

***Somebody pass me a paper bag before I hyperventilate! :D :D :D :D :D :D***

Links, Jenny.  Give the readers the links!  Focus!

Here is the official WEBSITE.  Here is where you can get the collector's edition DVD of the 1992 movie, if you have $50 bucks to burn. (I do not.  I will have to pray my VCR and/or VHS copy of it do not die on me.)  Here is a wikipedia article on the real life Newsboys Strike of 1899 that inspired the story.  Here is a photo from this NY Times article that I was going to link anyway (see!  I sourced!!) showing the main group of the Newsies cast.  

D'aww!  Cutie Pies!  :)

Now, the only down side to all of this is that it's running on Broadway.  You know, in NYC.  Which, according to Google maps, is 916 miles (15 hours and 35 minutes) from here, straight up I-85 N and passing through 6 states.  Hmmm.  Current circumstances afford me neither gasoline nor airfare for such an endeavor.  POUT.

So I guess I will have to sit tight until either a) somehow I miraculously get together an all expenses paid trip up to NY to see it on Broadway, or, b) stalk Ticketmaster/The Fox Theatre/Broadway Across America's websites and figure out a way to snag tickets if when it comes to Atlanta.  Sigh.  So much of my life recently seems to be made up of having to wait for things.

Until I find a solution, I'll be listening to the new OCR album.  In between Steam Powered Giraffe songs.  (Because I'm nowhere near finished being addicted to their music.  Probably ever.)  But yeah, pretty sure I can make room for the Newsies soundtrack!!!

Did you think I was going to tag a Music Mondays post and not leave you with a song?? :)

Here is my favorite song and dance number from the '92 movie, "The World Will Know":

And here it is given new life and amazing sound by the Broadway Cast!

And just because I can't stop, here are two more that I adore and will be singing at the top of my lungs for the next few months. :)  GORGEOUS!  Enjoy!

"Seize The Day"

"Once And For All"

I Got Rhythm...

I was mentally on a Gene Kelly kick today.  I haven't been dancing in AGES (and, with all that's going on here currently, am not likely going to be able to go for some time yet. :(  Such is the way it goes.).  But who can be sad with these clips playing in their head?? Exactly.  Enjoy!

"Moses Supposes" from Singing in the Rain, 1952

"The Worry Song" from Anchors Aweigh, 1945

"I Got Rhythm" from An American in Paris, 1951