OK Mozart

OK Mozart is a Bartlesville tradition. It has been going on here for over 25 years. It is a wonderful event full of music and fun, with classical, and new music coming together. The highlight for me is, every year, the Woolaroc Concert.(Click for more about Woolaroc) This is an outdoor concert that always ends with fireworks, both musically and literally. This year, the program featured American composers and music. If you ever have a chance to come to the OK Mozart festival you should definitely see this concert!

Homework done, but time for bed.

It’s been a long day and I am ready for bed. I have completed my entries for my online class and it is now time for me to go to sleep so I can be ready for another exciting day at the radio station. (I’m not sure if I’m being sarcastic or not right now, I’m too tired to figure it out…)

Time to start this up again!

Hey everybody! It’s been a while. I have a friend who is restarting her blog and I decided to resurrect mine! A recap of what’s been going on. I’m a senior now, about ready to graduate with my BS in Communication. I’m currently in Bartlesville, working for Bartlesville Radio as an intern. And I need to do homework so that’ll be it for now, expect more on a (semi-)daily basis!

Treat Night

Whenever the SAC (Student Activities Committee) begins showing a new movie, they start off by holding a “treat night.” I have wanted to come to a treat night since I started hearing about them. I have made it to my first one. As I sit here, the music has started, the lights are about to dim and I have had a cookie, some punch and have made a good start on my popcorn. The movie tonight is “How to Train Your Dragon.” (See my other blog for my review, which will be posted when the movie is over.) Actually, they are now trying to figure out how to get the video to work…wait…we just got video…let the movie roll!

Jabberwocky

Friday I saw the Tim Burton movie, “Alice.” For my thoughts on the movie as a movie, see my other blog. This post is about a thought that I had while watching the movie. Without giving any spoilers (that’s the job of my other blog…) The Jabberwocky is in the movie. For those of you unfamiliar with The Jabberwocky, below is the poem about it:

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought –
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

“And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!’
He chortled in his joy.

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

While the poem is odd and has odd words, the main gist is that there is a big nasty beast that is defeated by someone personally. This is a one on one battle, something that people can help you prepare for, but not do for you. Every person has their own “Jabberwocky” (see: El Guapo (5 points for the person who first responds to this post with the movie that this reference is from)). So…The Jabberwocky is a beast that, according to me, symbolizes a large looming personal problem. Then what is the vorpal sword? In the movie this sword is a really nifty sword that has little bauble type thingies on its blade, it looks really cool! In my analogy what would be the vorpal sword? Unfortunately to each person the vorpal sword will be something different. To me the answer is simple: wonderful family and friends who are willing to help and support me despite all my eccentricities (a nice way of saying “my weirdness”). With them, no with you, I can defeat anything. Thank you.

BlOg PoSt

Ummmmm, I was going to put up a post, but I am tired and am putting up this “teaser” post instead. Sorry.

5 Days

WELL, sorry that I haven’t updated my blog lately. I have been quite busy with classes and projects and, well, getting ready for some trip that I am taking…OH YEAH…TO IRELAND!
I wish that I would be all fun and games (I consider concerts fun) but unfortunately (fortunately?) I will also be filming the trip for a documentary that I am creating for one of my classes. I enjoy filming, but am not looking forward to getting permission from each location that I film in to record there. That’s right, if I am filming in a non-public place I am required to receive permission from each location. This means that besides my choir music I will also have permission forms in my folder, these forms will range from the location permission forms to the individual release forms that I have to have if I focus on a single person. My plane leaves Saturday from Tulsa. That means that I have 5…4 days now to make sure that I have all my equipment lined out and ready to go…oh yeah, and all the music ready to go, including the two pieces we just got today…More to come later, I may attempt to blog in Ireland at an internet cafe…

NEW BLOG!

After writing the post on “Avatar” I was pleased with my review of the movie. Tonight I watched “Superman” and thought, “Man! I want to write a review of this one too!” So, I decided to create a new blog where I will post thoughts and reviews about movies and people in and associated with movies. The new blog is in my blogroll but I will also post a link here. As I watch movies I will put up new posts. I will also accept requests to watch movies although I can’t guarantee when I will watch anything that is requested.

My thoughts on “Avatar”

My roommate and I have just returned from watching the movie “Avatar.” I had read a number of reviews and other articles concerning this movie. I read an article in “Popular Science” that discussed the method for filming the movie.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SPOILERS BELOW!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What I want to talk about though falls into three catagories.
1. Story
2. Production
3. Overall Effect

As I watched the movie, I saw a number of things in the story that showed a wonderful story had been written and was going to be shown. The movie began with a voiceover of Sully talking, a traditional beginning but not what you would expect for this type of movie. As the movie progressed we were shown different sides of our protagonist, the side that was there for his brother, the side that was there for the army, and the side that was there for himself. With the progression of the film, we side a fourth side grow, the side that is there for the planet. Many people, including myself before I actually watched it, saw this movie as a traditional “Indiginous species versus invaders” movie, a la Trail of Tears. Indeed, one review which I read called this movie a “glorified cowboys and indians tale.” This could not be more incorrect. This story was about a single man and the decisions that he had to make. This movie also was one of many movies that have recently reminded people of the need to take care of our planet. More than once there was mention of the “destroyed” or “burned out” planet that the humans had come from. Also, the movie focused on the spiritual side of nature, how we are (or at least should be) part of a circle. That we should work with nature to achieve our goals, not destry to meet them.

The story itself was wonderful, from the use of foreshadowing early on in the film with Sully holding a “flower” that is shown multiple times throughout the remainder of the film to the fleshing out of the Na’vi’s culture and customs. This shows great foresight and work on the part of the production team, which takes me to part 2.

The production of this film was top notch. From the beginnning, I enjoyed the music and the clarity of the backgrounds and nature. I feel that this may have been a decision in the eyes of the production staff to show how clean this planet was without humans there to sully it (haha I made a joke). This idea is firmly put into place later in the film after the home tree is destroyed. Sully wakes to find the tree destroyed. Other than himself, the entire landscape is a sea of grays and blacks, showing the difference between before and after. The music was, amazing. I wish I could say more, but I can’t there is no way to describe it.

Overall, This. Film. Was. Amazing. As soon as I saw the trailers for this film my hopes went up and they were not misplaced. I would suggest that you see it. If you have already seen it, watch it again.

Life and Deatg

This was written Nov. 5 I am posting it now,

Today was an interesting day. It was “Career day” at the local radio station which meant that I actually had to produce an ad for the station. Unfortunately, although I attempted to turn in my completed assignment, e-mail didn’t like it and sent it back. Normally this wouldn’t be a problem, but I didn’t find out about the unsent mail until after 6 PM! Today is also the 5th anniversary of my sister’s death. I am putting serious thought into visiting her grave this weekend. I also am singing in a concert at the University. The director always seems to find a song that makes me think of my sister for this concert. I know this isn’t on purpose, but I appreciate it. I always cry during the song, but I can get through it. I already have said song memorized, so seeing the music is not an issue.