FILMS I'D LIKE TO SEE

There are so many films that have recently come out or are soon coming out on my wish list of things to see.  These not only look like fantastic stories, but the cinematography is also stunning and sometimes I just like to lose myself in the pretty pictures.  Have you seen any of these yet?  What movies have you been wanting to see?

I AM GRATEFUL FOR A NEW YEAR

It's A Small World, Disneyland

Happy New Year, everyone!  My wish for you is that your 2012 is filled with sparkles and dreams-come-true and that that whole Mayan-apocolypse thing is a just a gross miscalculation.

I am a big fan of new years because I am a big fan of fresh starts and I think everybody deserves them.   Last year was pretty okay so I'm not looking to overhaul my entire life, but I'd be lying if I said it couldn't use some improvements.  And so I've made some resolutions.  These will, of course, have to be broken down into smaller, manageable chunks, but today I'm going to focus on the Big Pictures.

#1: Overdress at every occasion.
This is the only resolution from last year that I actually kept so I'm rolling it over to this year to remind myself that I can actually stick to a plan.

#2: $$$: That thing I need to save.
I'm somewhere between a problem spender and a shopping addict.  The funny thing is, all I really want to do is have enough money stashed away that I can quit my job for a year or maybe take a long trip to a foreign country.  This shouldn't be hard-- and yet I can't keep my priorities straight when there's a sale happening at Kate Spade.  This year I will be anally tracking my spending and getting therapy.  Lots of therapy.

#3: Lose that 10 lbs. I gained during the Great Hibernation of November and December.
I know, I know.  The tiresome weight loss resolution.  Good thing is: I'm not worried about this one at all.  I just need to get back into the swing of exercising in the mornings, which will be easy-peasy now that it's not pitch-black and freezing at 6AM anymore.  I'm honestly looking forward to it.

#4: Bitch, you have a BFA.  Try using it.
I already have a reputable job in my intended field of animation, but that job basically consists of making spreadsheets and telling people to work faster.  I have little time for hobbies outside of work and am feeling creatively bankrupt.  I'm going to start small by doing one drawing a week and trying to put out one ukulele song a month.  Please hold me to this.  If you don't see one of my crappy drawings every week or a video for one of my silly songs by the end of every month I need you to complain and I'll promptly put on Gwen Stefani's "What You Waiting For?" while I stare down at my blank sheet of paper.  The motivation has to come from somewhere.

Despite these hurdles, I'm really looking forward to 2012!  My best friend is getting married this summer and I know that I will be going back East twice to visit both my Pittsburgh and Connecticut families.  Also, Angry Boys is finally premiering tonight so, y'know, way to start the new year off right.

Do you make resolutions?  Have any tips to help me stick to mine?  What are you most excited for in 2012?

IRIS

Some of the crazy costumes from Iris

Today Tim and I took in a matinee of Cirque du Soliel's Iris: A Journey Through the World of Cinema, which has set up home in Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.  I hadn't been to see Cirque du Soliel since I saw (I think) Mystere in Vegas back in 200(?).  Anyway, it's been a long time so this was a special treat and a great way to send off 2011.

What can I say?  Cirque du Soliel really knows how to put on a show.  The costumes were spectacular, the acrobatics were astounding, and the clowns were... well, the clowns were pretty funny and they didn't speak entirely in French-Gibberish in this one so I was grateful for that. 

The first half of the show focuses on the development of film, equipment, and how film works technically, seeing how the movement looks from frame to frame.  They did some very interesting things with off-set timing and projections.  The acrobats were filmed live and projected on screen at the same time with an onion-skin effect so that you could see the path of their motions.  One of the female clowns walked around  the audience with a skirt that was a giant zoetrope she could spin-- it lit up and you could see the filmed cycle of a boxing match.  It was pretty amazing-- I can only imagine how heavy that thing is.  One of the funniest bits was with a magician pulling a silhouette rabbit out of his hat, and later an elephant (What is it?  It is a big pig, no?  Same family?)

The second half was in full color and all about the Hollywood studio and different genres of film.  It starts out with a giant dance/ acrobatics number on a sound stage and came full with an awards show (won by an unwitting audience member), rooftop mob-chase on trampoline, and one very double-jointed young starlet.  I won't give away the whole thing for you in case you were planning on seeing it yourself, but I'd happily recommend this one.  We both had a lot of fun.

For the rest of New Years Eve we're taking it easy and hangin' out in our jammies at home.  What are you doing New Years Eve?

CHRISTMAS IN DISNYLAND DAY 2: CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE

 

CHRISTMAS IN DISNEYLAND DAY 1: THE MAGIC KINGDOM

I AM GRATEFUL FOR CHRISTMAS

"Be Excellent To Each Other" print by Ray Fenwick via Pantry Press

Merry Christmas, everyone!  (Or whatever you celebrate... I do not discriminate.)  This Christmas is an "off-year" for Tim and I, which means we stay in Los Angeles instead of traveling back East to visit one of our respective families.  This year we're doing something a little different and spending Christmas and the day after at Disneyland because, in the eleven years I've been going to Disneyland, I've never seen it decorated for Christmas.  That means we're treating Christmas Eve (today) like our Christmas Day. 

Today we woke up and opened gifts.  It's always fun to see my dog, Otto, open gifts.  He gets really, really excited.  We basically kept it to stocking-stuffers since we're doing the mini-break thing and I felt a little silly because Tim got me some very fancy jewelry and I got him, like, instant coffee and socks. (Tim is hard to shop for.)  Otto always buys each of us a new ornament every year and this year he picked me out a Twilight ornament depicting the Bella/ Edward/ Jacob love triangle.  It brings a certain intensity to my Christmas tree that I never thought possible.  I heart it.

Later on we're having the LA family over for pot roast dinner, raspberry pie and maybe some Hollywood Squares.  How are you spending your Christmas?  Enquiring minds want to know!

I'll be off park-hopping the next couple of days so I'll be away from the blog, but I want to leave you all with this Christmas wish:  In the words of the great Bill S. Preston, Esq. (and/or Abraham Lincoln), "Be excellent to each other... and PARTY ON, DUDES!"

THE BEST CHRISTMAS COMMERCIAL EVER

What I was planning on posting today was photos of how I've been theme-dressing for Christmas all week.  However, instead of dressing up cute the past couple of days, I've been laying around in my jammies with my hair looking like a cross between Captain Hook's and Roseanne Roseannadanna's so you'll thank me for not posting photos.

Instead I'm giving you the best Christmas commercial ever.  It's been airing in Pittsburgh for 30 years now!  To me, it really embodies the spirit of the holidays.  I hope it will be aired for another 30 years more.

What is your favorite holiday commercial?