Tonichelle

GJ is no longer my default journal....

...let's face it GJ won't be here much longer... so I'm switching over to Insane Journal (BINKY SCOOT OVER THERE NOW!)

the link: http://tonichelle.insanejournal.com

that is all.

This message is brought to you by a very sick tummy...

I have no idea what's brought it on. Erin was sick on Friday/Saturday but I don't think it's a related illness... I hope not anyway. I haven't *gotten sick* but I have come close twice now and I hate hate HATE getting sick, especially without my mommy to help me feel better lol

I was going to do laundry and start packing for Nationals - with everything going on I have to pack early so I can make sure the house is in order when Judy gets back.

~~Alrighty it looks like GS exploded again last night so I better get over there and play like I know what I'm doing.~~

Alright I'm back, to finish this baby... I wanted to post a little Meme type thing I did on another message board. Just a looking ahead type thing.

Classes for the Spring 08 semester

MW - Digital Imaging and Small Business Management
TR - College Algebra and Intro to Literature

January
19-28 - I will be in St. Paul, MN for the US Figure Skating National Championships. I'm rooming with two friends (one I've roomed with before, the other we only know from the board we moderate, but that person is from Alaska and is a lot of fun so we're excited!) I also get to hang out with my skater friends Melissa Gregory & Denis Petukhov (and her mom lol) and cheer them on. They're so sweet.

February
I'm going to hopefully see "Hair" with my cousin.

March
Other than doing the 'It's Spring Break Happy Dance' I have nothing planned

April
I've no idea yet.

May
17 - is my mom's 62nd BDay and since she is so excited about getting her social security check we're doing a surprise party (yes for the woman who hates surprises) at her best friend's house (it was her idea!) and we're going to basically roast my mother lol

June
Hopefully in May/June I'll have a job with the Seavey's again.

July
See June lol

August
See June lol

September
Classes will be in full swing. Hopefully I will get to Kenai for dad's birthday.

October
We're planning to do a tribute to Disney's Haunted Mansion ride (not movie, it stunk!) for the Hallowe'en decor. Should be fun!

November
Who knows

December
See November

then January 09 I'm going to Walt Disney World with Erin!!!

I'm still feeling icky, but I gotta get this packing and laundry thing going... so I might start that up in a little bit... as soon as standing up and bending (or really any movement) stops making me want to ... yeah lol

15 days to Nationals!

Because Flo did it first...

...and I'm lonely and bored...

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Went on a family vacation with all four of us plus two, shared a hotel room with my brother and DID NOT KILL HIM!

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't do resolutions very well... but I did want to do better in classes, and I somewhat kept to that. IT's definitely the goal again this year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, but five bazillion of my friends are pregnant lol

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grampy did last night... thanks for asking.

5. What countries did you visit?
Unless you count the world showcase at Epcot... just stayed in the good ol US of A

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Um..... a job that is not seasonal? or a boyfriend?

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The 10 days in JUNE were awesome...

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Full-time summer job that I was actually good at. And shooting a wedding from start to finish!

9. What was your biggest failure?
um... not finding a job after Wildride

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
nope - but my dog more than made up for that.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
The trip to Disney World

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hmmmmmmmmmmmmm I dunno lol

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Duane's but what else is new

14. Where did most of your money go?
Walt Disney World and my dog. And nationals (which is here in 17 days!)

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
DISNEY WORLD and Erin coming for Christmas lol

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
"Remember When" by Leann Rimes (ok so yeah it's a Disney song, sue me!)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier.
b) thinner or fatter? about the same
c) richer or poorer? richer in life and in pocketbook

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
studying

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
procrastinating

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Um spent it at home in Anchorage with my best friend

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Nope.

22. How many one-night stands?
never will have those

23. What was your favorite TV program?
American Idol, House, and Iron Chef America

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
um. no?

25. What was the best book you read?
Wait, I read a book? I enjoyed Taylor Hick's autobiography (surprisingly better than Clay Aikens)

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Taylor Swift I guess.

27. What did you want and get?
Um I wanted to go to nationals 08 and I was able to get the tickets....

28. What did you want and not get?
A higher GPA lol

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Probably Pirates 3 At World's End... though I discovered The Holiday this year and loved it.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I think I went to dinner with my aunt... and I turned 22

31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
a higher GPA

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
same as always

33. What kept you sane?
Wait.... I'm SANE?

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Evan Lysacek.... Orlando Bloom (according to friends but honestly I think I just like Will Turner), Hugh Laurie

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Hm. I'm not sure....

36. Who did you miss?
Erin....

37. Who was the best new person you met?
my friend Rachael

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
I learn nothing

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Jesus can you show me just how far the East is from the west? Cuz I don't care to see the man I've been come rising up in me again! In the arms of your mercy I find rest. Cuz you know just how far the east is from the west: from one scarred hand to the other.

thank you again for all of the emails I appreciate it so much!

on a totally unrelated topic I have a new theme for my journal... it made me happy to put it up this morning. tonichelle

Grampy's gone...

he passed away about an hour ago. he went peacefully...

I'm doing well... just wanted to let you all know and thank you for your prayers and notes of encouragement, I cannot begin to express how much they meant!

Love you all!

Grampy is fading fast...

...He wasn't supposed to make it last night, but he did and had a good day today ( well as good as can be expected ) and he's not supposed to make it through the night tonight...

I won't know until sometime tomorrow. I asked Judy not to call me if it happens in the middle of the night, just because I don't do well with that sort of thing.

Erin leaves tomorrow... and then I just hold down the fort till whenever Judy and Mom get home...

oy.

Just a little Holiday Message ;)

To all my Democratic friends:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishes.

To all my Republican friends:

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

hee hee, I couldn't resist!

To My Sister...

whom I love dearly....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BINKY!!!!!
You have no idea how hard it was for me not to reveal thy real name ;)

Just a note to one of my favorite people....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEZ!!!!

no, Terry, you did not coin a fraze

the wrong edge flip has been called a "Lip" for at least as long as I've been on figure skating message boards....

I'm currently working on moving from GJ to IJ and LJ

I've been on LJ since 05, and I just opened up an IJ... I'm Tonichelle on both. My LJ has religious and political content, much more so than what I've had here. It's friends only for that reason. So comment if you want to be added there...

if not and you have an IJ the IJ will be just like this one here... so it's not just cross posts on both journals :)

It's amazing. It's absolutely amazing...

...but, under the right circumstances, a producer could make more money with a flop, than he could with a hit!

Last night my aunt and I went to the Atwood Concert Hall to watch The Producers which is on it's National Tour. It was her early Christmas gift to me. Because I'm in love with the musical, it's one of my top ten favorites. It's just hysterically funny and if you've been in any part of theater you get just why it's so stupidly true and the humor is just over the top!

Anyway when she ordered the tickets she splurged and got tickets for the main floor/orchestra section. We ended up being in the second row stage left. It was incredible! I've never been to a broadway show that close to teh stage! It was great.

I will admit I was more than a little giddy waiting for teh show - yes I was worried that I would have incredibly high expectations and compare the cast to that of the movie (who can beat Nathan Lane?), and CATS was a major disappointment, it just didn't seem to flow as well as the video (but they were the best of the best in that one).

Funny thing I heard while sitting waiting for it to bein - this guy behind us was talking to his wife/girlfriend/SO lol and he was saying how the only version of the movie he saw was the Mel Brooks version.... which while eavesdropping further I realized was teh 2005 version... um... both movies are the Mel Brooks version. It just annoys me that people don't know simple movie trivia. Or at LEAST read teh play bill where they give credit to Mr. Brooks!!!! But it was funny. "Does this follow the Mel Brooks version?" um I dunno! *smacks forehead* People are morons! LOL

Anyway the lights went down, the music began, and the curtain went up and from start to finish it was just as good as the film. Brad Nacht played Max Bialystock and while he is not Nathan Lane, he was definitely good. My only problem was - for whatever reason - his mic when he talked was turned way lower than the rest of the cast. So the energy just didn't pop. He was very good, though, don't get me wrong, but his energy was all over the place. I don't know if that was just how he made the character or what, but it wasn't BAD.

Austin Own played Leo Bloom and he was perfect at it. His energy, his wide-eyed expression, his youthful exuberance just lit up the stage and he was such a highlight. Never mind Leo is probably my favorite character in the show anyway, he did really well. He was just enough like Brodderick version that the character was familiar, but he totally kept it his own as well. His hysteria fits were different than Matthew's take and that was GREAT.

Anyway the musical had a few surprises / differences from the film, which I knew going in. There were songs that were dropped in the film for continuity and what not but I kinda wish they'd kept a couple of parts in. But oh well... gotta keep them a little different so the stage version won't dry up.

Elizabeth Pawloski was great as Ulla. I'm not sure what it was about her accent that bugged me, maybe because it was so slow like she really had to ennunciate or something, but it wasn't overly annoying. Just different in a weird way. She was very cute in the role, though, and had a great voice.

The show's BEST performance or at least most popular was John West's performance as Carmen Ghia. He totally outshined the rest of the cast (and Roger Bart's portrayal in the original show/movie). He was just made for that role and did an amazing job. Everything about him was PERFECT. You could really tell he loved his part and he more than sold it. He was definitely the buzz around the theater at intermission.

So those were my top characters ;) though everyone was just fantastic...

I won't give a blow by blow as like I said it is pretty close to the movie. But I will highlight a few of the best moments.

First off the orchestra/band/whatever you want to call them was spot on. The only sour note came after the show when a trumpet hit a wrong (flat) note with the exit music. But after 3 hours, I can completely understand and it wasn't a big deal lol... it was probably the best group of musicians I've heard during a show.

During the Springtime for Hitler "show" when Roger Du Bris sings the big solo as Hitler he ended and bowed and then tried to get the audience to participate, no one really got it so I started cheering rather loudly which got it started (after he ran over to my side of the stage and got excited) but it annoyed the hoity toity people around me. I heard one person say someone didn't know how to act in the theater... um, sorry, but when an actor ASKS for my participation it's rude not to play along. Get the stick out of your butt.

Most of my favorite parts of the show were little inside jokes meant just for the audience that took you out of the show for a moment. They came mainly during the second act. Probably because they realized Alaskans are willing to be entertained. It was definitely an energetic crowd for opening night, and the place was PACKED.

It was great. When Max and Leo are in the office after the show is a success and Leo is taking the books to the authorities and Max takes them away from him. Leo starts screaming "FAT!" and Max looked at him and said "I'm not that fat, everything's bigger in Alaska!" The audience LOST it, we went NUTS! And I don't think they were expecting as big a response as they got because 'Leo's' eyes went wide and they both were biting their bottom lip to keep from laughing. It was a great moment and we didn't calm down for almost two minutes. So they just had to stand there.

From then the whole cast was all about just making the show hysterical. They really went all out for the final stretch. They kept building in the energy and feeding off of us and we were feeding off of them. It was GREAT.

From there came my favorite song (not my theme song which would be "I Wanna Be A Producer") "Betrayed" I love Nathan Lane's version... but Brad Nacht did a fantastic job and as he got to teh point in the song where he sings about little old lady land (which in the show has it's own song! LOL) he screamed "INTERMISSION" and sat down on his jail cell got and pulled out a playbill! IF that wasn't funny enough he opens it up and begins reading his little bio and then looks up and says "Well, he'd definitely no Nathan" referring to - of course - Nathan Lane (who is a Broadway God, let's face it!). And that got a huge laugh (and a very sad me because I'd JUST SAID THAT during the real intermission... so I felt bad lol)

The last big surprise was when they were in the court scene and the Jury Foreman was one of our local celebrities. They'd made the announcement that he was playing the part, but it didn't click. It was funny because when the curtain first came up to reveal the courtroom you could tell everyone was basically asking "is that really him" and then it clicked and we all just FREAKED (never did hear his line lol) and he got this huge smile on his face and then walked off. And the Judge looked out at all of us and said "It's like you all know him or something." It was hysterical.

All in all the whole show was top notch. I didn't think anything would top Grease when it was here Christmas of 03, but it did... I don't think it was just because I was second row, or that it was the Producers. It just was a GREAT opening night (Which in and of itself surprises me) and aside from two SMALL flubs that I seemed to be the only one to catch it went off without a hitch.

So there was my night, I'm still coming off of the high (I couldn't stop smiling at all last night!) and I'm just so glad I got to go. It really made my year!

So if you get a chance to see the tour when it comes your way. GO. You won't be disappointed at ALL. I loved every minute of it! ( http://www.producersontour.com )

Remember when I was obsessed with Figure Skating

more than Disney? Yeah, me too. My interests are regressing maturity wise! LOL I have about 10 to 15 avatars that are kating related... the rest is pretty much Disney with a couple of tv shows and movies thrown in.

I have really nothing of interest to write..blah

Tomorrow I get to see THE PRODUCERS!!!! *bounce*

I've been ELFED!

Just a little holiday cheer! Too much fun!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1180362392

Because I'm so tired of the board wars...

seriously if I see one more Yuna Kim vs Mao Asada fan threads OR Johnny Weir vs Evan Lysacek threads I will just go insane.

It's just so boring. Seriously, when did skating boards become so stupidly predictable and tempermental?

anyway Stars On Ice is still love, and I'm finding some great clips of past SOIs and CSOIs on Youtube and I just have to share my latest find.

I'd always heard that the Spaghetti Western was better on the CSOI tour than that of the US tour, I thought it'd be hard to beat considering it was Scott Hamilton and Katarina Witt... but... I was wrong... Lloyd Eisler and Scott Hamilton completely cracked me up.

And Kurt is oh so hot as a drunken cowboy!

Covetting your prayers.

Grampy is in the hospital with pnuemonia again... I don't think he's going to be around much longer... it just seems that way to me.

He was admitted sometime yesterday.

My aunt is not sure when she'll be heading down, but it's a big possibility that Erin and I will be in charge of Christmas at the house because my aunt will be in Cali.

I'm still not sure how I feel about it all... just pray for the situation. My grandfather is not a Christian, and so that means his eternal future is not a bright one at this point... and that is what scares me most of all.

Enchanted is truly Enchanting.

Well, against my better judgement I went to the movies by myself. Not to see an 'adult' film, but a children/family film sent out by Disney. Enchanted is the newest in the Princess theme, and it takes on a new approach, or so Disney wants you to think.

It's a squeaky clean parody on the Disney Classics. And the trailors made me dread it's coming release. I gave my friends who were rejoicing over the film a hard time (with good reason if I dare say! LOL) and basically tried to avoid it at all costs.

I let myself be spoiled before the movie thinking I wouldn't get to see it until it hit the shelves on DVD. So I knew what to expect for the most part, but there were still some surprises.

Problem is - as always - a lot of the GREAT moments Disney promoted so much that it was somewhat less than exciting, but to have the scenes come together finally is what put this movie above my expectations.

It starts out tributing Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty with the story book that is opened and the narrator - none other than Mary Poppins herself, Dame Julie Andrews (SQUEE!!!) - begins to give us the back story to the story. It's not an overly imaginative one, but then again Princess stories rarely are - especially when they aren't true princess stories. I do have to admit the whole opening choked me up. Yes, I wasn't around when Mr. Disney started his Princess empire, and I never saw Sleeping Beauty or Cinderella on the Big Screen (I'd LOVE to see Maleficent in all her true glory!).

We meet Giselle the fair maiden awaiting her true love's kiss from who she hopes is a prince. She's a princess of Cinderella type fare - the only way she'll be a princess is if she meets a prince and he falls for her. Well in enters Edward who has to be the most brainless of Disney princes, which I find highly annoying. Yeah I get it, he's a decent looking guy, but he is L-AME. Even before he ends up in New York City. Prince Phillip is still number one as far as Princes go (sorry Al, Erin, Charmings 1 & 2), and no I don't think I'm biased. I'll even say Eric (Little Mermaid) is better than Ed. Ed is just... I dunno. Way over the top.

The 2-d animation is quite good and in the more recent style that Disney has used for Treasure Planet, Lilo and Stitch, Tarzan, etc... which means the mouths bug me to no end, but it's still traditional animation so I won't complain too much. I will complain that there was not nearly enough of it. Yeah I get it was a live action movie and all, but I want a traditional princess film with traditional animation. Is it too much to ask Disney - the company who pretty much has the monopoly on that??? Seriously if you're worried about warping young girls minds, I don't think the princess movies are to blame for warping mine (I think Pirates were worse for me lol)

anyway... once Ed finds Giselle they fall in love instantly and are going to be married the next day to live happily ever after. Ender Ed's stepmother - Susan Surrandon in what is only the perfect role for her (a witch! I take great pleasure in that lol) - she does not want to lose her crown and once her stepson marries she will be booted out and whomever he marries will get that beloved tiara.

Oh and before I forget Narissa channels Maleficent something awesome in this film. So I did a few fan girl squees each time a Maleficent moment happend. Maleficent still rules all, though.

So long story short she pushes Giselle into an enchanted Well and sends her to a place where there are no happily ever afters - ie Manhatten lol

This is where we begin to see the human forms of the fairytale world. Amy Adams did a great job capturing that wide eyed princess expression. But then she ruins part of the magic with her barbie like arms. I get that she was trying to mimick the princess look, but the Disney princesses aren't statues. So it was annoying at first, thankfully as Giselle becomes more familiar with the real world the barbie arms relax a bit.

after searching for a kind soul, at night, in NYC and not finding anyone Giselle manages to find a billboard with a castle on it. so she climbs up to it to knock on the door to hopefully find help... well it's not a real castle so she's out of luck and thankfully patrick dempsy (Robert is his character) is there to save her. Granted when she falls and he goes to catch her, it's not a romantic catch they both go down and it hurts!

Then we spend most of the movie with Robert and Giselle both trying to teach the other about life. He's giving her lessons in reality, and she's giving him lessons in love. Together they make a pretty good team and Robert begins to lighten up. (He's so anti-fairytale he refuses to allow his daughter to follow those stories! the nerve!)

Meanwhile Ed has also gone through the well to rescue his bride. And what ensues is just a bunch of brainless jokes that are meant for the youngest members of the audience. Seriously, even if you are from a fairytale you cannot be that dumb and still function! LOL IF there was one major weak link in teh story/film it's Edward. I just felt he talked down way too far which is not like Mr. Disney. He never seemed to feel the need to talk down to a child's level. That the imagination of the child would make it easy for them to understand.

Ed is like Dopey, but without brains, if that makes any sense at all...

Anyway he has tagalongs in that of little pip - Giselle's best friend, who is also a chipmunk - while Pip can talk in fairytale world (I keep forgetting to just call it Andelasia) he can't in the real world and apparently Edward is not good at charades. Then again he's as dumb as a rock so I guess that's to be expected. He's also got his stepmother's henchman (which he doesn't know the dude's a double agent) and really the threesome is really not needed to make the movie good.

While they're running amok in NYC the real story is Giselle's growth into a real person. She is quickly falling for the 'real man' who is Robert, and he's starting to feel something for the youthful Giselle. I'm not sure where the real difference is between Giselle and Nancy - Robert's almost fiance - Nancy is every bit as romantic, but for whatever reason we're supposed to dispose of her rather quickly as the right choice for Robert is obviously Giselle.

Disney does this by just hiding Nancy for most of the movie, and making her jealous of Giselle in the few scenes she's in.

That and we also see that Giselle is quickly falling out of the desire to have a happily ever after fairytale romance. She wants to date and experience anger and other feelings fairytale heros and princesses don't feel (though I can name off a bunch of said characters who do feel all that Giselle has never experienced but whatever lol)

I realize I sound like I hated the movie, and I am being harsh, but I'll wrap this up shortly lol

The big climax centers around the "Ball" that apparently happens every year (for the last 25 anyway) where new yorkers pay tickets to dress up like victorian princess and princesses lol. Giselle ends up looking a bit out of place as Morgan (Robert's 6 year old daughter) has helped her get ready for the ball and let's just say Morgan has good taste.

Robert attends the ball with Nancy, Giselle with Ed (yeah he finds her after running around like a freak and then tearing through Robert's appartment complex lol)... but at the end of the night it's obvious Robert and Giselle are anything but happy with their respective partners.

But what are they to do? They come from completely different worlds, and they both listen to their heads...

and then enters Narissa. That's right, her henchman can't get it right (but when has the villain's sidekick ever gotten it right in a Disney movie?) so she has to come fix it. She enters the ball as the old hag - ala Snow White - complete with poison apple... Susan Surrandon as an old hag is just flipping nightmarish! Craziness!

Long story short we end up with a bit of Snow White meets Sleeping Beauty... and when Ed tries to wake the princess with true loves kiss it doesn't work.... even after multiple attempts, which is almost too embarrassing for words lol

and that's when Ed's brain appears and he gives it over to Robert. Then there's a kiss and all is happy

save for Narissa who then totally kicks into Maleficent over drive goes down into the middle of the ball room and in a huge ball of GREEN FLAME!!!! she turns into.... the sweetest/cutest dragon you have ever seen.

I'm sorry, I am so sick of having to baby children in a Disney movie. Put Narissa's Dragon next to Maleficent's dragon and it's just a JOKE. The climax was very disappointing. You lead up you tribute Maleficent and THIS is the BEST you can do?

She then steals Robert and begins telling jokes all the way to the top of the building. Um. Yeah. I guess we can't scare kids any more. Mommy and daddy might get mad. Oy.

I was scared of Maleficent, of the Queen of Hearts (ok every character in Alice in Wonderland freaked me out), and the evil Stepmother... I'm not scarred for life... and I love those movies now... get a backbone Disney!

Anyway *breathes* Giselle gets Robert, Ed gets Nancy. Giselle stays in NYC and takes over Nancy's fashion shop. Nancy goes with Ed and Pip back to fairytale land and all is happy....

All in all it was a great happy good feeling movie. Was it Mr. Disney design. Sadly, not. BUT! IT did tribute everything that was good about Disney films, with giving it a bit of a modern twist. Do I agree with it all, probably not, but all in all it was worth the time and effort to go see it... I'll be watching for it to come out on DVD and will be snatching it up... and Giselle is not on my hate list of princesses (just Ariel, Pocahontas, and Mulan -who is NOT A PRINCESS DISNEY!- get that honor lol)

and with all of that I bid you... good night!

David & Goliath, Jonathan, Samuel, and Saul...

...what do they all have in common. I want them to be characters in my Biblical Epic of a summer blockbuster film.

A few years back my pastor was in the middle of his Sermon on David when he stopped and chased a rabbit about how he wanted to see a blockbuster based on the Life of David... that was as huge as the Ten Commandments film.

It struck something inside my head and apparently I can't shake it. I'm even having vivid dreams of what it would look like. (Complete with a couple of actors already cast).

I have a specific picture of how I would portray Saul - of all the characters he's the only one that NEEDS a well known actor. Brad Pitt style as the Bible describes him has one that the people saw as good looking, a good leader, strong, etc... and who better to have that role than a modern day celeb who people could easily see in a leadership role? Brad is a two time "People's Sexiest Man Alive" winner, he's a humanitarian, he's into global warming. Good enough for me.

Saul was the people's choice for King. David was God's... if I were to cast this film David would be an unknown actor just because David was an unknown when he was annointed by God through Samuel... so that'd be my creative way of getting that across without banging it over people's heads.

Jonathan has always been my favorite Old Testament "character". I've always admired his faith and his courage. It took a lot to basically be the Prince of Israel who would never rule the land not because of his age or because of a death but because he simply was not God's choice. He accept that, he loved David - who essentially was taking his throne - and he defied his father many times in order to protect David. He's such a graceful and benevolent character - and yet we know so little about him. So he would be the avenue I would have to make the movie mine and not just a biopic docudrama of David's life.

I totally could see Orlando Bloom - or an actor like him - in the role. I honestly don't think Bloom needs to be in the role, but when I dream the movie he's the one who gets the part. He's totally type cast into these roles, as I think Jonathan does mask quite a few of the characters Orlando has played (Ok, let's face it, when I picture Jonathan I picture Will Turner-pre pirate, so sue me! LOL)

Anyway with Jonathan I don't have to just follow history because there doesn't seem to be much of a recording of what his life was like. I can play around with it. We know he had a son, so I assume he was married... and I assume he's a romantic of sorts... so I have this whole courtship with his wife (or favorite wife, who knows lol) and everything.

Why would I care other than the fact that he's my favorite in this whole story - because the life of David was filled with tragedy. I want to do a trilogy to fully hit the main stories that filled his life... the first film would center around him growing up within Saul's household, fighting off the giant, and end with him being forced to flee from Saul (and in a way Jonathan)... the second movie would be his accent on the throne. Which means Jonathan dies and David in the Bible is reportedly distraught at the loss.

In order for me to have the emotional response I want with the audience I have to make them fall in love with Jonathan so they can grieve with David. So that's why I want to flesh Jonathan's character out.

Anyway - I want to start fleshing this whole movie out. Hey it's what I want to do in the long run is be a film director, so the sooner I get this worked out the better, IMHO. I can continue tweaking it over the course of time lol

So my first step is to research all of the key players.

Which at this time are
Samuel
David
Saul
Jonathan

at some point I'll need to research Bathsheba... but that's a while yet, and really there are David & Bathsheba films out there already. Maybe I should just have a duology. lol.

I have no idea where to start really - outside of the Bible. However, seeing as how David is also a hero in Jewish history (possibly even more so than in Christian history) I know I can't limit myself to just my religion's picture and history... for all I know there's a lot more recorded about all of the main men in the story...

so - I need some idea of some books that I should read to get caught up with not just Dave but with the others...

anyone know where to look????

x-posted to GreatestJournal, LiveJournal, and Facebook.

That dreaded phone call...

...Grampy's not doing well. Which we've known since he was released from the hospital earlier in the month. He went for tests on Friday... and the dr told my uncle Rick today that my Grampy won't make it six months...

I'm not really feeling anything at the moment, which bugs me. But I was like this when Grammy died too. I don't know if I'm just dead inside or if this is how I grieve or what. My mom and aunt are wrecks and I'm just here.

Maybe it's just because I don't know my grampy as well as I wish I did... I only see him once every blue moon, and talk to him on the phone like once a year (not that it's all on my end, he doesn't like talking to me lol ok that's a lie he likes talking to me when he's in the mood to talk. otherwise he just wants off the phone no matter who he talks to.)

It was just never financially possible for us to go down to California as much as my aunt, so I guess in a way we were cheated out of a relationship. I dunno... but it's bothering me.

Judy's planning to go down with mom in February to give Fred and Rick a break and I guess they're planning to be down there a month (At least my aunt is)... which means I will be holding down the fort on my own here (Lord help me! LOL)

So much for the year ending on a high note... this WAS a good year.

Yuka's gettin her stitches out...

in about an hour... *whew*

I take it too seriously...

...After a not so serious chat last night with a couple of friends on DisneySites message board I dug out my Snowden on Ice tapes. I'm currently watching the Raggedy Ann and Andy special. So Snowden 2 if you will.

For those of you not into that part of skating (or skating at all) it starred 4 of my all time figure skatiers - Kurt Browning, Scott Hamilton, Katia Gordeeva, and Josee Chouinard.

It was as cheesey and sappy as holiday specials come, but the skating even dummied down is still so great. It kinda HURTS that skating isn't like that anymore.

And when I say skating I just mean that the cast is different. Scott's retired. Josee's retired. Kurt and Katia are getting that way (Kurt's actually TALKING about it now in articles!!!!!! OMG That just freaks me out.)

Most of the skaters I grew up idolizing are on TV so little anymore that it's hard not to feel sad or nostalgic. I don't know why it feels this way to me... I'm just a dork I guess lol. But really I have to feel that the 90s generation of pro skaters was the best ever. I know every generation is the best to someone... but the "Golden Era" was something special.

I dunno, I just watched a buttload of competitions this week from this season... and yeah I adore Evan, and Melissa and Denis are tops, and the ladies are all pretty.... but I just don't have that connection. Jamie and David were the closest I've had to that same type of feeling... I don't have *that* feeling when it comes to Melissa and Denis. I mean I look up to them and yeah they're awesome skaters... but they're not I dunno... I just don't sit there and get that same feeling.

Boy I sound like a psycho.

I need to put this on DVD... the tape is wearing out lol... I just love it so much... the acting is so funky in this but it's still so cute... Kurt and Josee are so perfect in their roles...

Now I want to go back and watch a bunch of old programs... hopefully someday the pro world will be as it was when I was growing up with so many characters and dynamic and wonderful skating...

if anyone is capable of putting screencaps of this show together I would love them forEVER.

I wanna go see a movie...

... but I hate going alone and I can't find anyone who can go with me. *sigh* Not good.

I want to see Disney's Enchanted. Not so much because I think it looks good - I'm not too enthusiastic thanks to the Trailors - but because it's Disney and it has a bit of classic animation that I think Disney needs to keep around.

Traditional animation is still the best form of animation, but Disney just doesn't get that. Leave the computer stuff to Pixar, focus on what made Disney great (and believe it or not that was NOT Pirates = but they sure are nice lol)

Walt Disney World is mocking me... their ads are following me I swear! I can't get away from it!

Hey, a week from Saturday I get to see The Producers! WOOT!

ok can you tell my life is so boring I have no life? LOL

Randomly Generated Grades

I swear my history prof just randomly selects grades out of hat when she grades papers. Because I KNOW I did NOT write a B worthy paper. I would have gotten a higher grade - get this - if I had remembered to NUMBER my pages.

Seriously! The INSANITY of it all! Oy!

If I'd turned the paper in to Mr. Summer in 8th grade I would not only have an F but he'd make me rewrite it. Yes, I turned in a paper that bad. But when you have a prof who not only does not tell you what the paper should be = just gives you a be creative and don't do a book report. It's hard to not freak out about doing it incorrectly. Which is what I was focussed on.

I am SO glad the semester is almost over. This woman is going to end up killing me I swear!

I'm stuffed...

...ok not really anymore.

Dad and mom and duane did make it up for Thanksgiving, and made it home last night (dad has to work today :()

Thanksgiving at the g'parents was good... for the most part. I hate big crowds in condensed spaces, and gma LOVES having a crowd to show off her culinary talents. hee hee! It was pretty much the same guest list as last year, plus my parents aunt and their newish neighbors. It was a good group. We had fun.

Topics ranged from Disney, to recent films, to who's going to die next in the family. We covered all the holiday basics! LOL

We had a ton of dogs there too. Yuka, Willie, Jeff's "girlfriend's" dog Mazel, Carolyn's two dogs Max and Sammy. It was CRAZY

But it was good food... and the turkey didn't taste like oyster stuffing this year even though they made said stuffing again this year *gag*.

So now I'm just hanging out here and getting excited that the Christmas Season is upon me lol I am watching Christmas movies and not feeling guilty in the slightest.

For the record The Holiday is one of my new Christmas favorites :)

Dad has the flu :(

Please pray for my papa, he's got teh flu... if he doesn't feel better by tomorrow afternoon they won't be coming up for Turkey dinner :(

In happier news, Yuka's cast if off and she's on the mend... her leg is SO SWOLLEN though. But she's feeling so much better... she even ate out of her dish for the first time in three days!!! I'm so proud of her! :)

She also let me sleep in this morning till 8!!!! I was in big need of sleep :) so I am a very happy person :)

I want to see the Shrek Christmas Special next Wednesday

and with that random thought, I leave you :)

From one scarred hand to the other...

amen and amen and amen!