Phantom review

Just got back from seeing the movie version of Phantom of the Opera. Hhhmm. I can't compare it to the live version, 'cuz I haven't seen it, but I can tell you that there's something palable about going to see a live theater performance (isn't that why we pay to see our favorite musicians play in person?) and it is obvious that the movie is trying to recreate this magic for the audience of movie goers.

Unfortunately, what is also obvious is that theater magic is essentially unable to be recreated through alternative means.

Emmy Rossum is beautiful. Once a real opera singer for the Met, she sings wonderfully. The two male leads are good singers. Raoul is naturally, absolutely handsome. The Phantom, or the part of his face that you see through most of the movie, is also good-looking. The casting directors were also smart enough to have them have different looks-Raoul is fair, baby-faced and blonde, while the Phantom is dark haired and somewhat rugged-looking.

The sets, costumes, and makeup are fantastic.

In short, it has everything one would think it should have to be a fantastic adaptation of a well-loved Broadway show.

But that one thing that's missing, that certain something, was enough to prompt at least 5 people walk out of the show that I attended tonight. (And in New York, it's nearly $11 to go to the movies). I wish I could tell you that the movie was worth seeing, but really, save your money and see something else instead. ("In Good Company"had an early release here, so I think I might see that before I have to return to school on Monday. I'll let you know what I think about that if I do...)

Hope all of you are doing well.

Christmas recap

Christmas was actually really nice this year. Of course, it was difficult without Momma or Daddy, but the rest of the family anticipated this and was constantly supportive and generous.

The biggest thing I'm grateful for right now is that unlike some of you poor slobs, I'm still on Christmas vacation for another 2 workdays and a weekend before facing the daily grind again. (Although I realize that there are a great many of you who are on the same countdown...how is it that teaching has captured so many of us? Perhaps it is the schedule...)

I was planning to leave the tree up until after New Year's, but my furry girls have taken a new and sudden fascination with it that they didn't have for the first 4 or 5 days it was up and are now trying to find ways to climb the damn thing. I found Christmas ornaments that had been catnapped into the kitchen, bathroom and hall closet. At this point, I believe I'm going to cut my losses (there are at least 4 ornament casualties that I know of so far) and put everything away.

I also think that despite an earlier decision not to send holiday cards, I have changed my mind and will spend part of today reconnecting with friends around the country. At first, I hadn't figured out how to send a letter with happy greetings and still acknowledge that in a lot of ways, this year sucked hard core. I still don't know how that's going to come out, but I'm going to give it a try anyhow.

New Year's is approaching rapidly and I am looking forward to a much better year. Teaching is getting better, I am learning how to balance my school and university responsibilities, and it appears that there may finally be romance on the horizon.

Little drunk

Had a small holiday party tonight. The guests just left, 2 of which brought, ahem, more wine.

Overall it was a very enjoyable evening, although one should expect that when many teachers get together, they will procede to think and talk about teacherly things.

However, wine makes it all okay. I don't drink very often, but being able to get drunck off just 2 somewhat large glasses of wine is sometimes a great thing.

The girls were very well behaved, except that at one point Sydney thought that perhaps she might like a piece of carrot cake. She was disuaded, and settled for a chuck of pie instead (mostly kidding--little brat!)

I am feeling quite good and think I will now retire myself to the couch, where I will watch tv until I fall asleep. Uuuummm. I like this sleepy-drunkish, lulled feeling. Too bad there is not another here when you need them. Where IS that boy from Kansas? Wish he'd quit goofing around and get here already!

Who needs sleep?

Well, it's crunch time here...

I've got 7 school days left until Christmas vacation, my second observation within 7 days is tomorrow, two take-home finals for university due next week, an apartment to clean and decorate before people come over this Saturday and two furry kitties who are feeling way neglected.

I am really frantic.

I think if I can get through the observation tomorrow, things will start to feel much better. By then, I won't have as many lessons to plan before the end of the term (the day before a vacation is always crazy, so I choose to have controlled craziness rather than attempt to teach a real lesson which children will ignore and be crazy anyway).

I have tomorrow and Friday nights and Saturday daytime to finish cleaning and decorating, because I'm having my first party in my NYC apartment...I'm really excited, but also thinking about all the stuff I haven't gotten done yet.

Checked off on the list, however, is Christmas shopping. I went totally online this year, and all but two gifts for Texans are already wrapped and on their way to Round Rock. Those two are coming here because there were more things for family here in that shipment and this particular company didn't appear to split the orders between shipping addresses.

So, for holiday cheer, I just have to get my cards together (bought last year at half off) and put up my tree! Hopefully the girls will not try to climb or eat it while I'm at school. (It's fake, so at least they won't be tempted by that fresh-tree smell!)

Besides that, today was the coldest it's been so far this year! There were actually some light snowflakes in the air on the way to work today and it was really windy and freezing on the way home from class at about 9 tonight.

Ah-there was a knock at the door---Christmas gifts! Fun, fun, fun! One for me, and one for my Aunt.

Anyway, lessons to type and such. Love ya'll!