Random Thoughts

[Mara]

I'm seeing Bernstein's Candide on Friday. Anyone familiar with the musical? (Or, opera? I'm confused about that.) I've read Voltaire's original work, of course.

I'm trying to listen to the music right now so I'm not unprepared.

[Spinal]

I'm seeing Bernstein's Candide on Friday. Anyone familiar with the musical? (Or, opera? I'm confused about that.) I've read Voltaire's original work, of course.

I'm trying to listen to the music right now so I'm not unprepared.

Operetta, they usually call it. Somewhere in between. I like it a lot. The music is sweeping and gorgeous. The libretto is witty and captures the satirical tone of the book well. If the performers are good, you should be in for a treat.

[Mara]

If the performers are good, you should be in for a treat.

Yeah, so far it sounds crazy complicated. Not a score for amateurs! But some lovely songs.

[Spinal]

Yeah, so far it sounds crazy complicated. Not a score for amateurs! But some lovely songs.

"Glitter and Be Gay" is the show-stopper. A fun roller-coaster of a song.

I probably like the final song best though. "Make Our Garden Grow". Such sweet, simple sentiment.

[Mara]

"Glitter and Be Gay" is the show-stopper.

It reminded me of "Poor Wand'ring One" in that it's a powerhouse, ridiculously intricate soprano piece that is nevertheless funny and clever. And "Oh, Happy We" was a lovely duet.

[Mara]

I probably like the final song best though. "Make Our Garden Grow". Such sweet, simple sentiment.

Okay, yes. Beautiful.

[Qrazy]

Operetta, they usually call it. Somewhere in between. I like it a lot. The music is sweeping and gorgeous. The libretto is witty and captures the satirical tone of the book well. If the performers are good, you should be in for a treat.

Agreed.

[Mara]

This may only be funny to me, but here is a message exchange between the siblings in my family which I find somewhat... telling.

[number8]

What the hell is a gift wheel?

[Mara]

What the hell is a gift wheel?

...you know, so each person only gives to one person. Margaret gives to Natalie, who gives to Ian, who gives to Emma, who gives to Margaret. Like so.

Cuts down on money spent. We're frugal people.

[Mara]

My very-OCD grandfather enforced a strict gift wheel policy for all adults over 18 within the family, which means all adults only got one gift, ever. This wheel was wildly subverted. (Yeah, like my parents aren't going to get any gifts for their kids. Good luck with that.)

But we don't have Christmas with my grandpa anymore, so things have gotten mad with all the gift-giving. We always try to curtail it somehow.

[Ezee E]

The bad thing with the gift wheel is that everyone will hope to get a certain someone as their giftgiver. And what happens if you have no idea what to get for your person? Weak.

[Mara]

And what happens if you have no idea what to get for your person?

You ask Mom. She always knows.

Honestly, I prefer to get gifts for everyone, even if they're smaller gifts as a result. It's a little more personal.

But I've cut way back on which friends receive gifts. Buying my house wiped me out financially this year, so I'm sending out cards to everyone but only my very nearest and dearest are getting presents.

[Dukefrukem]

10 days of the semester left and I'm going on a movie bender.

[[ETM]]

[Sven]

I think that people who dislike Keanu are trying too hard.

[number8]

I think that people who dislike Keanu are assholes.

[[ETM]]

I think that people who dislike Keanu are assholes.

Agreed.

You loiter all you want, Keanu.

[Spun Lepton]

He's a bit stiff, acting-wise, but most accounts say that he's a geniunely good person to have on your project. Didn't he put some of his own money forward the The Matrix needed it? Seems like somebody I'd like to have a beer with.

[Irish]

I think that people who dislike Keanu are assholes.

I'm an asshole. I used to roll my eyes and deride this guy all the time.

Then that weird Reddit "Cheer up Keanu" meme thing happened, and now part of my cheers inside every time I see a photo of him.

[number8]

Didn't he put some of his own money forward the The Matrix needed it?

I don't really know what this sentence means, but he donated a large portion of his paycheck from the sequels to the stunt team members' salary and bought each of them a brand new Harley.

[Spun Lepton]

I don't really know what this sentence means.

Oof, missed a word in there, my bad. I thought I'd heard somewhere that The Matrix had budgetary problems during production, which Keanu stepped in to fix with his own money.

[megladon8]

And yes, Spun is right, when the first film needed more money, he waived a big chunk of his pay to see that it got finished.

He's a stand-up guy. I like him a lot. I even like him as an actor. He's no thespian, but I find him charismatic and likable, and he can be quite funny.

I'd like to hang out with him.

Oh, and on a completely different note...

[Derek]

Keanu is a great guy but a terrible actor.

[[ETM]]

Keanu is a great guy but a terrible actor.

I don't know, I think he's getting somewhere with age. I caught some of "Street Kings" online yesterday, and just flat out didn't recognize him at all. That has never happened before.