“Dwell in Possibility” 21 February 2008

Readers who are Drury people will understand this post.

The title was the inspiring quote at the bottom of Myrna’s bookstore e-mail today. I like it, for a few reasons:

1) Myrna’s inspirational quotes are a good reason to tune into each “spirit day sale” e-mail. Even if I don’t need another Drury hoodie at 25% off…I’m sure to find a reason to smile—for better or for worse—at the bottom of the e-mail.

2) On an ice storm day like today, it’s nice to think about possibility…that spring and flowers and bunnies and sunshine really are just a few weeks away.

3) “Dwell” is such a delicious word. It feels spiritual: I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
I will [LIVE in], I will [surround myself with], I will [claim my space in] possibility.

4) It’s much better than the alternative: dwelling in frustration. dwelling in stress. dwelling in “this is how it’s always been.”

What a Lentdown 19 February 2008

Sad story: the title of this post is probably the most creative thing I’ve written all week.

(Probably not true. I’ve written a lot in recent days, in e-mails to myself, on napkins (believe the cliche!), in my notebook that’s always with me, in random notepad files I open on my mac desktop in hopes someday they’ll develop into something more than notes…)

But who has the TIME to complete anything?!  ADULT life is so much busier than I ever imagined. (I remember reading articles in Mom’s “mom magazines”* about scheduling time to pluck eyebrows, pay bills. It seemed so silly to my little-kid self, who had nothing better to do than go to school and develop elaborate social lives for her toys. And oh the books I could read! The time to doodle!) I’m even writing this at my desk, still at work.

I have, in the midst of the busy, set another BIG GOAL for myself. And I feel that making it public will make me stick with it.  I’m taking Creative Writing II: Nonfiction this semester, and we’ve read some essays out of Brevity, a journal of short-short nonfiction.  I am going to submit something this semester, and be a true (term I’ve stolen from the Brevity page) “nonfictionist”. 

Delicious new goal. I’m excited. Maybe I’ll submit 13.1.

 …

*A “mom magazine” is a publication that can be purchased at a Wal-Mart checkout counter, which features–among other things–photos of seasonally themed cupcakes and tips on sensible handbag purchases, appealing to moms everywhere.  See: Woman’s Day, Woman’s World, Family Circle.

Drumroll please… 10 February 2008

MY TOP MOVIES OF THE YEAR

I’ve never made a list like this before. It’s exciting to revisit every movie I saw in 2007 (well, to be accurate, in the last Oscar-cycle) and pick my favorites. My top ten is unlike others because I pick the movies that gave me the best movie-going experiences of the year. The ones that changed me the most for the better. Not necessarily the best technically, or the best reviewed.
For example, There Will Be Blood, some say, is a work of cinematic genius, but it made me feel like dying inside…so, it’s not on the list.

7 honorable mentions:
Becoming Jane
Bee Movie
Charlie Wilson’s War
Helvetica
I am Legend
Jane Austen Book Club
Waitress

And now, The Best:

10) Superbad–Rounding out the top 10 with a comedy, because I was disappointed by recent hyped-up comedies: Borat, Knocked Up. But this one was 10x funnier than I expected, and also had some heart. And Michael Cera is cute as a little awkward ol’ button. What’s not to like?
9) I’m Not There–already gushed about this one. Art / Identity / Hmm…
8 ) Atonement–not “the epic movie of the decade” as ads had raved, but my opinion of it has improved with time, especially after reading Ian McEwan’s book. Many images have stuck with me. Typewriter keys, the library, the minutes-long one-shot war scene. And I love James McEvoy.
7) Once–Hairspray, who? Without a doubt the best musical of the year. I admit I almost didn’t like it at first. “It’s so sad…” and it is. Not at all a Meg Ryan romance (though I enjoy those as well…), but it’s real and it’s hopeful…once you stop wanting it to be a fairy tale.
6) The Darjeeling Limited–Wes Anderson + India = I was super-excited to see this one.
5) The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford–fascinating story of obsession and betrayal. Brad Pitt perfect for the role with its implications about American celebrity. Casey Affleck: He’s not just for Oceans movie sidekicking anymore!
4) Lars and the Real Girl–Happy tears, sad tears, isn’t-life-wonderful tears.
3) Black Snake Moan–The feminist in me wanted nothing to do with this movie for a long time (she’s in underwear and chains? are you kidding me?!), but I broke down and saw it at the palace and love love loved it. Justin Timberlake, a redemption story-line, and hot-blues-dance-hall soundtrack. And learned from the commentary that I’ve been to some of the Memphis locations where they filmed. Pretty cool.
2) Ratatouille–Animation never ceases to amaze me. The visual experience of this movie alone had it at #1 on my list for a long, long time. Add to it a story of the journey of the artist, and the life-saving power of creation. I love it! That moment where he’s leaning back watching the Eiffel Tower after his big night in the kitchen, when everyone deserted him but he pulled through anyway, and you can just feel his little creative mouse fulfillment…my heart explodes every time. This might be my favorite Pixar movie yet.
1) The Diving Bell and the Butterfly–So excited this just opened at The Moxie and can’t wait to see it again. I can’t do it justice in just a few lines, so I may do a full entry about it later. Inspiring, hilarious, beautiful. As is the book.
1.0) To and From–Obviously this was the best best movie of the year, and the experience of (making and) watching it (and watching again) better than any other of 2007.

sooner than later 10 February 2008

02.10

In keeping with the new Lent resolution of doing things sooner than later, today I did the following:

1) Read my homework for Tuesday’s class AND Thursday night
2) Organized months of receipts, bills, statements into a real-live filing system
3) Went running for the first time in *cough* weeks

And let me tell you, in case you weren’t sure, 31 degrees is cold, y’all! It’s painful cold. Even when dressed in layers and a sporty knit headband. When I came back inside my apartment felt like it was on fire. And this drafty old place has been known to feel fiery, basically anytime I choose to barely turn on the 80 year old radiators, but not today.
My glasses are steamy, my ears are throbbing, and my lungs are raspy. My equilibrium is thoroughly confused. And I can’t remember the last time I felt so alive. It’s amazing. I only ran a mile, but already that I’ll-kick-the-world’s-ass-and-face-all-my-fears-and-plant-some-daisies-while-I’m-at-it feeling is back after just one run.
My reflection in car windows as I pass is a little rounder than it was two months ago…and I only have myself (and cold weather and Christmas goodies) to blame.
Speaking of facing fears…I was at Target this week and swimsuits are out. (There was also snow on the ground this week. Retail waits for no one.) For years I’ve been an advocate of retro swimwear making a comeback…and I mean really retro. Neck-to-knee. Once again my wish has not been granted, and a variety of polka dot, flowery, stringy, shiny doll clothes are available for sale so that anorexic pre-teens everywhere have something to folic about in at the beach. Okay, okay. That’s a bit much. Just writing that line made me laugh at my own ridiculousness. Then wheeze a little.
No need to panic. It’s only February. Summer is still far away. Spring Break will find me in Minneapolis. I won’t need to think about wearing a swimsuit for a comfortable amount of time. But staying healthy (and the lovely side-effect of not looking gross in swimwear) is a process made of small steps, consistent decisions made every day…sooner than later.
And it seems there’s always a new temptation…another thing I did today: went to the new north side Chipotle. mmm…burrito bol…

PS 7 February 2008

Oh and I updated my movies and books. Did a lot of the watching and the reading over winter break. I’ll try to be better with the commentary in the future…

I welcome discussion, of course! That is, if I have any readers left after my long vacation from blogging…

Last night I saw I’m Not There at the Moxie. It’s been playing there since before Christmas it feels like, and I finally got around to it. I was concerned, because I’d been told by 2 friends, whose movie opinions I often trust, that I was going to hate it. I’m happy to report that I disagree with them.
First of all, I’ve come to enjoy the feeling of seeing a movie alone on a weeknight. There’s something comforting about it. But this movie in particular was fun to take in by myself, and let myself be confused and fascinated at the same time. I kept thinking how confusion and fascination in just the right combination can be a sign of really good art. I couldn’t stop thinking about this movie while I was watching it, and to me that’s a very good sign.
It’s an odd movie. I’m sure there’s a lot I didn’t get because I don’t know a whole lot about Bob Dylan. But it was 100% worth my Moxie card stamp.
I’d say I recommend it, but I saw the very last showing.
So rent it sometime.

PS–The Diving Bell and the Butterfly just opened at the Moxie today. I already saw it in Kansas City, and it may or may not be my favorite movie of the year. That’s a list I’ve yet to commit to. But go see it. And then buy the book. If you’re a nerd like I am.

The Blog is Back 7 February 2008

02.06
Lent

It’s the first day of Lent (well, technically it’s the day after now…but I’m still writing. It still counts.) And this year I’ve given up “not writing”. Yup. Until Easter I’m getting back into good habits, so check back often. It’s going to be fun.

I realize I could’ve given up any number of things: TV, soda, facebook.
But I barely watch TV anymore, and soon as I give it up, the writers strike will be over and I’ll miss Jim and Pam’s wedding or something spectacular like that.
I also rarely drink soda, but when I do it’s a nice boost in an otherwise stressful day. Or a necessity…you can’t go to Taco Bell and NOT order Baja Blast.
And facebook is the one way I keep in touch with many friends scattered all over the country…since I’m bad at phone calls and rarely write letters.
And I know lent is supposed to be about sacrifice, but I’m not even Catholic…so I don’t feel all that guilty. (ha. In more ways than one…)
So I’ve decided I’m giving up procrastinating. Seems kind of convoluted to say that I’m going to give up NOT doing things, but here I am with the p-word as maybe my most fatal flaw, and here’s a tool to help me deal with it. Thank you, ritual sacrifice!

So here I am. A new assignment. This time not attached to any external project. Just writing.

WRITING.

But where to begin? I can’t count the number of times over my month-long blog break that I said “I should blog about that!” and scribbled something down in my notebook or on a sticky note or the back of a receipt. (Sometimes while driving. (Writing is not safe.)) It seems unfair that there’s so much inspiration and only one ME to take it all in, decide what’s good, what’s worth keeping.

at any given moment my mind is swirling with ideas:
old people at walmart: endearing or sad
Movies I see, books I read
Coincidences and Conversations
Improv scenes
Quirky wisdom on local business marquees
The ups and downs of an ordinary workday
(and it’s my job to live in a residence hall. the stories I could tell.)
Beauty in the mundane: doing dishes, wrapping a gift
An obscure story or interview on CBS Sunday Morning or This American Life
Boys.
My family. Here alone are several novels.
etc.

See? My mind is a wide-open window, and the world is a dust-storm. And it’s my job as a writer to take in the dust and sift out the glitter, and glue it to a page, and hold it up proudly, saying, look what I made!
It’s no wonder I’m sometimes tired, and it feels easier just to ignore my mind.
And switch on the TV
Or drink a soda
Or hop on facebook
But not anymore. Not until Easter.

So come back. If this entry didn’t exhaust you, I think you’ll make it just fine.