Bearshorty's musings

For the last few weeks I was not in the mood for books. I have at least two books sitting on my nightstand but I just have not been picking them up. (I’m starting Eco but I’m just not feeling it right now). I have been reading a little more Sandman “Endless Nights” and my National Geographic and fanfic but not actual books. So today I went to take a look at my shelf of books to read and I figured maybe picking up a non-fiction would work. And it did. I started “Infidel” by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, her memoir and I already read 50 pages. She recounts her childhood in Somalia, Saudi Arabia and other African and Middle Eastern counties and then her adulthood in the Western world. I do like autobiographies and especially about a complete different culture. This book is making me very grateful that I was born in the Western World (well, Eastern European World of Soviet Union and then USA when I was almost 13). Especially as a woman. Reading an account of her circumcision was very difficult. I’m looking forward to the rest of the book.

I like having the Olympics in the background and watching random events. I do wish they would show the full decathlon, not just the two Americans.

Part 2: Movies, books and theater

Movies

On June 18, Bear and I went to Manhattan for the day since we had a meeting with rabbi and a priest in the evening to talk about our ceremony. So we decided to make a day of it and we went to see “Prometheus” in IMAX 3D and then walked around the city for a while. (If we were going to pay ridiculous amount of money for 3D in Manhattan – twice as much as in my local theater – we might as well add a few bucks and watch it in IMAX). This was the only movie I saw this June. (Well, tomorrow, Bear and I are going to see “Brave”, so that would be the second one.) I haven’t really watched many movies on Netflix either. I do want to rent “The Artist.” This year, I have been going to the movie theater more but I want to probably skip Batman since I wasn’t a fan of “Dark Knight.” I might catch it on DVD later. What I really want to see is “Magic Mike” because that movie is not very subtle (there might be a plot in that movie but I really don’t care. Go mostly naked boys.) Unfortunately, my local movie theater is not playing it- there are going in favor of “Ted,” which looks so stupid. So I might have to wait to see it.

( Prometheus )

Books

June was non-eventful book month. I mostly read fanfic lately or online books and I don’t have time for read actual books. I did finish Sandman Volumes 7 and 8 and I’m reading “Perks of being a Wallflower” and “Emma” right now when the mood strikes me.

Volume 7 of Sandman (“Brief Lives’) was not my favorite. It was fine and it had its moments but I like 8 more (“Worlds’ End”) since it is more firmly in the storytelling realm and not main Endless plot. Bear is the opposite. He prefers 7 to 6 or 8, because he like the main plot and he relates to Delirium lately. I just adored story within story within story within story format of 8. I do know the endgame of the series so I could pick up all the clues in 8, which I do like.

I am also enjoying “Emma” – I know all plot from the gazillion movies and mini-series – and it is not my favorite Austen story – but I’m really liking the book. I think it is because Austen’s sarcasm and snarkiness is in full force here. I am reading it a bit slowly.

Theater

As my birthday present, Bear got me tickets to Broadway for June 8 to see “Anything Goes.” I had the CD of it since New Years and it was so wonderful to see it in person. I wanted to see it since last year’s Tony Awards. Speaking of, I watched the Tony’s again this year (with the break for “True Blood” and I did catch up the next day). No show really stood out this time but it was fun to see so many SYTYCD alums in the cast of “Newsies”

“Anything Goes” Absolutely fabulous good time. Knowing all the songs make it even better but what this revival exceeds at was dancing. That 10 minute tap dancing number for “Anything Goes” song was so amazing to watch live – how do they have the energy? I’ve seen Joel Grey on stage before but he fabulous as Moonface Martin. Stephanie Block as Reno Sweeny stole the show for me – her voice and her dancing were so on point. She was just so amazing. I’m so happy that this show got extended and I got to see it.

I’m done with Sandman Vol 6 “Fables and Reflections”- a book of stories – characters telling them and lots of historical stories too. I liked it a lot. Gaiman has this fascination with storytellers and I do many of his interpretations of gods and myths. But I do love his very careful and though historical accuracy in his historical stories. So many references.

In the evening I had the Jubilee Special with Katie Couric in the background. The Queen’s Coronation was on June 2, which is my bday, so I it always felt special to me. Plus, I do English history so I know all the history of the monarchy and it makes it fun.

A week ago, when Bear was here, we caught an interview with Roger Waters on TV and saw that he is on tour for “The Wall” again. He will be in New York in July so I asked Bear if he wanted to go as my birthday present to him since Bear’s birthday is a few weeks away. (He always takes me to Broadway for my birthday). He is not a big crowd person but “The Wall” was such an important album to him in high school. So I gave him a week to think about it. Usually I get stuff off his Amazon wishlist plus some of my own books or movies – we limit gift giving and don’t go overboard. So finally today he decided that the concert would be more of an experience so I bought concerts tickets today. Should be fun. I don’t usually go to concerts and never a huge one like this.

Yeva and Vito broke up again – I think it might stick this time. Argh.

I don’t know why but I just get too lazy lately to post on time and end up catching up a few weeks later. I need to get myself together more. May 31.

My parents left the country to go on vacation. I really like having the house to myself for two weeks. And I do appreciate having a kitchen to myself where I can go nuts.

I finished Sandman “A Game of You” this evening. It was my first time reading it and it made me cry. ( Spoilers. )

A few links:

1. If Avengers was 10 times shorter.

2. Religious history of marriage

Last week was Janna’s birthday, so today a few of us got together for a nice brunch in West Village in Manhattan to celebrate it.

The day was all rainy but I actually liked it. It was the kind of rain that set the mood for a nice melancholy day but it was really soothing. And it wasn’t raining too hard when I was walking around in the morning getting the gift card and finding the place.

And on the bus on the way to the city (trains weren’t running today so it was bus for me), I actually managed to read. I get motion sickness usually on the bus or in the car if I try to read anything but this time it was all right. Maybe because I was reading a graphic novel, not an actual book – but that was fun. I actually finished the second volume of Sandman today – I think I read half of it.

Brunch itself was delicious. It was in this tiny little place with twelve tables and one waiter. I had a salad and an omelet with mushrooms and a crepe. And mimosa. There was just Janna, myself, Yeva and Vito and it was very cozy. I got a ride back halfway and scouted out some bakeries too.

And when I got home I even put together my Cold War class for tomorrow – the last lecture for the Global class.

So overall, a very good day.

“Stardust” by Neil Gaiman. This book I read quickly. Mostly because it is fun and easy and written for kids (but like anything by Gaiman, for adults too). I did see the movie a while ago so I forgot most of the plot until I came upon it. I did like the book more (the movie cliffhanger battle scene was added for drama purposes and I like how the book resolves the situation.)

Since I’m going to start Sandman in two weeks (I only read the first 4 volumes before and now I’m going to read the whole thing along with MarkReads) and I barely have time to read because of work, I’m starting “Hound of Baskerville” from my book list, since it is short and easy and I haven’t read it since I was maybe nine.

My fifteen minute nap amongst grading turned into two hour nap – I think because of the weather and I was probably needed to catch up on sleep.

“Bridesmaids” premiered on HBO last night so I watched it with my parents. Not the most comfortable arrangement because of some sex scenes in the beginning. But it was fine. I don’t think I would ever rewatch it, since I don’t really like that kind of humor but the main storyline was good and some stuff was funny. Not really best comedy ever as most were claiming.