Joke’s On Who?!

Friday afternoon I watched a flick via one of the best free services offered through the Internet, hulu.  I could spend some quality (not to mention productive! ya right…) time perusing recently aired TV shows, as well as some lesser-known movies. Another favorite freebie is Pandora, which introduces me to some pretty hip-hop-happening tunes.

Anyway, the other day I noticed that “Exit Through the Gift Shop” was a recently added to the site. With just enough time before my Blanc date with Courtdazzle, I decided to cozy up in bed and watch it. I had plans to write about it and try to break it down in my best Critic voice, but alas, that is not my strongest element. I found this link, however, that does a much better job of explaining the film and the debate surrounding it.

The movie is based on the street art movement and some of its main figures, including Space Invader, Shepard Fairey, and even the ever-elusive Banksy. The original filmmaker, Thierry Guetta, even manages to become a street artist himself, Mr. Brainwash (MBW). Where the movie’s biggest question lie is within MBW’s creation. Does the overnight success of such a major flop of an artist put the joke on street art, Banksy,  the public, or somehow, back on MBW himself? Even after the movie was over I still wasn’t sure who was getting the last laugh.

I would definitely recommend this movie, as it’s entertaining, enlightening, and has hosts of cool art in it. Plus, if you live anywhere within the continental States you will most likely have a snow day tomorrow and will be looking for something to do.

I’m So Glad I’m Not a Boy

I just finished Skippy Dies by Paul Murray and the title of this post was one of more prominent thoughts upon conclusion. I know being a girl is tough and comes with its own bundle of issues, and I suppose with each gender you come up with your own set of defense mechanisms, but man! Being an adolescent boy sounds tough!

Photo courtesy of heyuguys.co.uk

Within the first few pages the reader is aware the protagonist, Skippy, dies (that is, if the title didn’t clue you in). What the remainder of the novel does is explain the tough realities of boarding school life in Dublin for teachers and students alike. One of the most influential is the pressure parents put on their children, whether they are aware of it or not. How does a marriage’s dissolution affect the child? The screaming matches? The blame? The neglect?

Or a parent’s illness. One family’s method of dealing with terminal cancer is to play a Game, such that the disease does not exist and Mum is always “sleeping and unable to come to the phone.” Skippy Dies is at once funny (oh to be privy to 13-year-old conversations) and painful (suppressing emotions and feelings in order to save face), and achieves fluidity and cohesion throughout.

The reader wants to believe that everything will work out for the young boys, but the title ensures that these lads will undergo some sort of trauma. An additional element to the novel is how  the boys and faculty will cope with such a Tragedy. How does Skippy’s own pain and lack of coping skills transfer to the other members of Seabrook Academy?

Toward the end of the novel two teachers are gathered together in a local watering hole. One says to another, “‘Life makes fools of us all sooner or later. But keep your sense of humour and you’ll at least be able to take your humiliations with some measure of grace. In the end, you know, it’s our own expectations that crush us.'” Naturally, as someone with more experience and wisdom, the teacher is able to reflect on the horror of Skippy’s death with more insight than the kiddos. What I took away from the novel stems from the aforementioned quote: life is tough and full of mishaps, but if we are able to live with a sense of humor and not take it all too seriously then we have a better chance of coming out on top.

Although difficult to read at some cringe-worthy points, I highly recommend this read.

Frightening

My recent carelessness and lack of focus has got me all sorts of mixed up. Never having been a thrill-seeker or “live on the edge” sort of person, events of the past day or so have thrown me for quite a loop. I wish I could say my scrambling yesterday for a graduate school was due to sneaky deadlines and an evil plot devised by the school to weed out people missing certain perception skills. No, unfortunately not the case. It was just me, not paying attention.

In any event, thanks to the last-minute help from family, FedEx, and the graciousness of previous professors, I have my first application submitted. This school is a bit of a long shot, but one that I am willing to take. Because, (warning: after-school-special message here) you never know until you try. And, what have I got to lose?

Irrelevant to the previous topic, I made a panzanella salad the other night for dinner using leftover bread from the chili on Sunday. This bread salad is perhaps one of the easiest dishes to make and can be created with many ingredients just sitting in your fridge. The first time I ever made this dish was at Aunt Winnie and Uncle Ken’s house in Connecticut when Courtney and I went to visit them one summer. Perhaps it was sitting on their back porch in a beautiful, slightly secluded neighborhood that made it taste all the better. The other night was delicious as well, but I think it works best when eating on a warm summer night served as a refreshingly light meal after a hard day shopping and laying by the pool. Rough life, eh?

This salad’s particular ingredients (everything is cut into bite-sized cubes) :

• chicken breast sautéed with herbs
• leftover sourdough and italian bread
• yellow bell pepper
• orange bell pepper
• grape tomatoes
• cucumber
• artichoke hearts marinated in oil

After you combine all the ingredients in a large bowl cover with some of your favorite oil-based dressing, or make your own. We used a balsamic vinegrette.  Cover the vegetables, chicken and bread with just enough to coat it, but not soak it. Mix, mix, mix it up. Let is sit in the refrigerator for about thirty minutes, mixing it up again about halfway through. When ready to serve sprinkle on some cheese and fresh herbs. For ours, I covered it in leftover parmigiano, goat cheese, and parsley from the other night. Pretty tasty eats.

With Very Best Wishes

“It is not true that we only have one life to live, if we can read, we can live as many lives and as many kinds of lives as we wish.” -S.I Hayakawa

 

I found this quote today while I was stumbling through blogs and I think it’s quite intriguing. As someone who becomes emotionally involved in books I can relate to almost believing the story is apart of my life.

For instance, last year on my way home from Spain my flight was canceled and I was relegated to waiting in the Madrid airport for many extra hours, sitting at the Milan train station for many extra hours, and finally training back to Zurich for several extra hours. In short (though it didn’t feel it at the time), I was able to blaze through the book One Day by David Nicholls (Adam, best Christmas present in all the land). By the book’s end I was so wrapped up in the lives of Emma and Dexter that I couldn’t remember if they were legitimate friends or not.

Image courtesy of hodder.co.uk

How does such a significant and seemingly meaningful connection between character and reader happen? In this particular instance I was traveling home alone and had no one to communicate with other than the characters in my book. It was either try to communicate in rusty Spanish with fellow commuters, stare into space and be overwhelmed by the frustration of “sick pilots,” or read my book. Therefore the book became my constant companion for one day (oooo, pun intended) and I was able to finish it in that short span of time. Another factor for such a speedy read: the book was incredibly well written. This past summer I was privy to a book reading and interview with the author in Zurich (another tipp topp super surprise) and even Nicholls remarked that some days he couldn’t believe he actually wrote this book. I wouldn’t call this book a literary gem, one that will change the way we write for the rest of time. But I also wouldn’t say it was written only for entertainment and to be a part of Oprah’s Book Club (oh, I hope she hasn’t gotten her hands on it yet!). This book deviates from typical, predictable romantic comedy, boy-meets-girl, and closely examines the possibility of a solely platonic male-female friendship.

I suppose what it was that made this book, and so many others,  so consuming for me was the ability to insert my life into the story line. What would it be like to have a friend like Dexter? How would my life end up if I were to find myself in a similar situation with a friend? Perhaps I have a much wilder imagination than previously supposed and I let it carry me away.

I think Hayakawa’s quote is spot-on, though. If we allow ourselves to establish relationships with the characters in our books we can live vicariously through them. Expanding our imagination and allowing it freedom just might be the best thing we can do as readers.

Solid Sunday

Sometimes there is nothing better than a lazy Sunday morning…that turns into an entire lazy day.

Scones

Running

Football

 

Church

 

Chili

Swiss German

I kind of wish I was on my return flight to Zurich right now…

 

Skewl is Kewl

These past few days have been dedicated to graduate school preparations. This includes, but is not limited to: editing writing samples, contacting old teachers for references, researching programs, beginning the arduous process of writing a personal statement, updating my resumé, and actually filling out applications. I’ve had some high moments (finding out I don’t need to send a couple of transcripts) and some low points (had to cross one of my favorite prospects off the list), but overall I am happy with the progress I’ve made. It feels so right to be heading in this direction, even if at times it seems mightily overwhelming. This afternoon is dedicated to more personal statement work, which I find to be a most entertaining and stimulating project. What?! Clearly I’m kidding.

I’ve been listening to some pretty good tunes this week to help make the time seem a wee bit less stressful. Here are some examples of my favorites. Hope they help you as well!

And to think I was just in Paris exactly two months ago…

 

 

This is definitely my favorite Ray song.

Unproductive

At the bottom of the post is a picture of the most productive thing I did today. Yes, I also changed my sheets and hit the gym for an hour, but for the majority of the day I lounged. I mean this in the fullest sense of the word. Courtney and I watched the highly intelligent and thought provoking, critically acclaimed programming, The Rachel Zoe Project for, oh let’s just say, 4 hours straight. And did I once get out of my big, fluffy robe and jammies for the viewing of this show? Did I even manage to brush my teeth? Negative. Let’s just say when 1:00 rolled around, the pair of us decided to get our life together before bed sores were a legitimate concern.

Tonight I put together one of the easiest meals of all the times (that’s a Jillatinous reference). I took it from a recipe that I believe is in one of Giada’s cookbooks, but because it is so absurdly easy, I can just wing it. Here is a rough sketch of the ingredients and steps:

Ingredients:

• 4 links Italian sausage
• 1 pound whole wheat pasta (rigatoni, orchiette, whatever you prefer)
• 1 1/2 c grape tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
• 4 c fresh spinach leaves
• 1/3 c dry white wine
• 1 1/2 c low-sodium chicken stock
• Italian cheese for garnish

Steps:

• Heat sausage over medium heat. While it’s cooking break it up into small chunks.

• Meanwhile cook pasta until just before al dente. Set aside until needed. Pour a little olive oil on it to prevent it from sticking together.

• After sausage has browned, drain any fat and add the white wine to de-glaze the pan. Scrape up any bits on the bottom. Then add one cup of the chicken stock.

• Add tomatoes to the sausage. Turn heat down to low and cover for 3-5 minutes, or until tomatoes are soft. Add salt and pepper to season.

• Add pasta to the sausage and tomato mix. Stir to combine all ingredients. Add stock as necessary.

• Add spinach and cover for 3 minutes or until spinach is soft. This should be done right at the end so spinach keeps its color and a little bite.

• Serve in large bowls and add any Italian cheese for garnish.

 

These directions are a little obscure, but like I said, I just kind of make it up as I go. It takes about twenty-thirty minutes and the ingredient list is super small. You probably have most of those things in your house now.

After an exhausting day like today, nothing says kick up your heels and relax like a big bowl of pasta. Enjoy!

nom nom nom

Stay Out Late

This past weekend I headed toward the aptly named “Manhappenin'” with Stephanie and Beth to do some quality control at the university and make sure everything was still running smoothly. I hadn’t been back to K-State since my reign ended there one year ago. With a big basketball game on Saturday afternoon and nothing but time to kill and buddies to hang out with, good times were certainly upon us.

For fear of ruining my reputation and shaming myself into seclusion, I will refrain from sharing the grisly details. But, it was a spectacular time that involved an extraordinary amount of laughs and reminiscing. Over lunch, at my all-time favorite burger joint, So Long Saloon, Beth, Stephanie, Elizabeth, and I rehashed some of the best times we had while living together our senior year. We commented on what it would be like to zap back to those years when  concerns drifted toward essays, tests, potential date party suitors (commence eye rolling), and how we could fit in all our shows on a week night. Besides this past year living in Switzerland, I can say with full confidence that those were the best years thus far.

Go CATS!!

I’ll leave you with this gem from Tom Petty,

“You have four years to be irresponsible here. Relax. Work is for people with jobs. You’ll never remember class time, but you’ll remember time you wasted hanging out with your friends. So, stay out late. Go out on a Tuesday with your friends when you have a paper due Wednesday. Spend money you don’t have. Drink ’til sunrise. The work never ends, but college does…”

Jumper Cable Lips

This song is always a good idea.