October 26, 2009
Quinn Fabray is preggers! OMG!

Ok, that's not really what I'm blogging about, but I still wrote it.

[Yes, I'm awesome]

What am I blogging about? My pseudo-porcine influenza, of course!

I stayed home from all my classes today because of illness. If I'm dead in two weeks, you know why now.

In other news, Faustus is my favorite. He's a great phone conversationist and I enjoy chatting with him--especially when I've got pseudo-porcine influenza and my roommates would prefer I quarantine myself :D

"So help me, if you make me sick, I'm gonna kill you!"
--Grandma not five seconds ago

Ok, this blog post doesn't too much of a point, so I'll stop here. BUT, in the event of my brain returning to normal functioning capabilities, I'll letcha know!

OUT AND ABOUT.

:::::UPDATE:::::

I had this super intense nightmare last night. I was stuck in an NES version of The Playboy Mansion--it was super pixelized and such--and all of us in there had to win prostitution challenges like we were on a reality show. However, rather than just being sent home, the loser of these challenges was fed to zombies. Knowing that I wasn't going to win the challenge and not wanting to be fed to zombies, I went through a process of backtracking through a GameBoy version of the show and getting out through a fire escape. For anyone who knows him, Frankie Withers then magically appeared and navigated me through Towson so I could go home.

It was sick nasty.
posted by Gwennifer at 11:44 PM | 3 comments
October 19, 2009
For my E.A.P. class, I read "The Pit and the Pendulum" last night as part of the homework. This was a happy little trangle down Memory Lane...

My best friend and I were perusing through Borders one day after school about seven or eight years ago. On this rare occasion, I had money and decided to take advantage of a two-for-one special. The two books I selected? The Odyssey by Homer because I wanted to look smart and figured I'd read it at some point in high school, and a collection of Edgar Allen Poe stories because what kid doesn't want to look dark and mysterious for liking Poe?

When I had some time later, I started thumbing through it and discovered a story called "The Pit and the Pendulum". Initially, I was slightly disappointed to discover that authors circa 1840's didn't exactly write in modern vernacular, so the going was a little slow. However, upon finishing it, my reaction was akin to something like--

"Awesome--what on Earth did I just read?"

It's been a few years since that initial encounter and I now have a greater appreciation for what Poe was doing with the story. However, rather than examine the journey into the unconscious or Jung's theory on individuation, I'd like to pose a question:

For those of us familiar with the story, we know that the narrator has been captured during the Spanish Inquisition. For whatever reason, they place him in a dungeonesque room in total darkness. He flounders around for a while to figure out the dimensions of his cell when he trips suddenly and discovers an exceedingly deep pit right in the center that his captors clearly hoped he'd fall into. However, upon discovering this, our narrator does the logical thing--he falls asleep. Upon waking up, he discovers that the room is now lit and that he's strapped to a wooden table by means of thick leather straps. When he looks up, he sees a giant scythe swinging like a pendulum closer and closer to where he's confined to the table. Thanks to some quick thinking, he's able to get himself out of that pickle as well. However, here's where I actually bring in my question:

Is it better to die rather quickly and unexpectedly in the dark or to endure prolonged mental agony as you watch your death loom closer and closer? To die in ignorance or to know exactly what's coming?

Any and all opinions on the subject are greatly appreciated. Happy Monday!
posted by Gwennifer at 12:26 PM | 1 comments
October 12, 2009
On Friday night, I was blessed with the unique opportunity to attend Theater Mitu's touring production of Death of a Salesman in the Pardoe. I walked in with very little notion of what to expect: I've only read maybe 3/4 of this one, and I have to say that I wasn't crazy about it. Loved The Crucible, but the fragmented structure of Salesman really threw me for a loop. Anyway, so I walked in not a huge fan of Arthur Miller and very unfamiliar with the avant-garde style of Theater Mitu.

I suppose it would be somewhat superfluous to say that my non-existent expectations were blown to bits. I was completely unprepared for what was easily one of the most cathartic theatre experiences I've ever had in my life.

The play was set on a small cluster of granite-slabs--sidewalk. The sidewalk of America. This patch of sidewalk [with two access ramps that led off stage] was never left by any of the characters. It contained the entire world of the play. However, this world was unlike any I had ever seen or even imagined. For those familiar with the play, you know that it really only follows three main characters: Willy Loman, his wife Linda, and his fallen from grace son Biff. His other son, Happy, as well as the supporting cast of about ten other minor characters, were represented by iconic household items from the 1950's:
  • Happy, the second best son who's turned his life to fulfilling his carnal desires and desperately trying to please his parents without much success, was represented as an old punching bag.
  • Ben Loman, Willy's older and much more successful brother, was represented by a large circular light.
  • The Woman who derails Willy's whole life, as well as other flirtatious women throughout the play, were represented by personal room fans.
  • Bernard, the bookish boy from next door who eventually comes into great success due to focus and dedication in school, was represented by a small handheld strip light.
  • Bernard's father Charley, Willy's only friend and eventually financial benefactor, was represented as an old refrigerator door.
  • A gossipy secretary who has little sympathy for Willy was represented by a telephone.
  • The maitre'd at the restaurant was represented by a chilling bucket with a bottle of champagne.

All of these items were manipulated at different times by a mere two puppeteers dressed head to toe in black so that their presence was known onstage while the focus remained on the items. This was a major nod to the Japanese tradition of Bunraku [puppet theatre]. Even though it's difficult to imagine, each item had an individual personality and voice [pre-recorded], which allowed to audience to suspend their disbelief with relative ease and willingness.

In addition to interacting with all of these items on stage, the actual human characters also carried with them an item that acted as an extension of themselves. Willy carried an overlarge valise, Linda a Japanese parasol, and Biff a set of football shoulder pads. In the case of Biff, his item often replaced him when Willy lapsed into flashbacks, indicating that these items represented how the others saw them rather than having any physical importance to their existence.

Although it was a three hour play, time was suspended in the mesmerizing performances of everyone on stage. It was hard to care about homework or appointments as you watched people and items alike interacting and creeping closer to the tragedy of the common man. The entire show was enshrouded in a sense of foreboding created by ominous piano accompaniment to almost every scene. It even went as far as being physically uncomfortable when the music swelled to crescendo as Willy literally fell into his disordered inner state multiple times throughout the show.

One of the trickier aspects of staging this piece reveals itself in the form of age transition. How does one go from old to young in matter of three seconds between flashback scenes? The answer presented itself in the form of masks, which was a convention taken from the ancient Japanese tradition of Noh. While wearing the masks, both Willy and Linda appeared to be well advanced in years, even from the front row. However, once the masks came off, both were young and vibrant and absolutely exploding with energy. It was certainly a tribute to the ability of the actors to be able to physically represent that difference rather than relying solely on the masks to do the working of aging for them because, in case you hadn't gleaned from the above paragraphs the circumstances under which the actors were performing, the acting was absolutely PHENOMENAL.

From here, I could go on and on about how the plot was progressed and the introduction of singing to what is traditionally considered a straight dramatic piece without musical influence, but I feel as if I've done a rough embodiment of all the really blew my mind about the show with the exception of one thing. The one thing that stood out to me above all the spectacular conventions was the real human connections that the characters established not just with each other, but with the audience. I rarely ever find myself moved when I go to the theatre, but this production literally left me breathless by the end. I could elaborate with flimsy and meaningless words, but I don't want to mar the memory of that incredible night of performance.

As a whole, if anyone reading this somehow has an opportunity to attend a Theater Mitu show, I'd HIGHLY recommend it. The company is innovative and ambitious, and it really does have the ability to breathe new life into plays that have become stagnant and commonplace.

Heck, if you have the time, just sit down and read Death of a Salesman if you can stomach the real tragedy of the middle class. Long gone are the days of the tragic hero found in Oedipus, my friends.

And with that, I bid you a happy Monday.
posted by Gwennifer at 2:14 PM | 1 comments
October 11, 2009
So, there's a dating class offered in our ward. The accompanying resource to this class is a fun little blog for everyone to post their dating forays on...in...whatever.

Anyway, there's a personality test that's offered to anyone who wants to take it. Grandma took it and--big surprise--she showed up waaay dominant. Just kidding, that's not a given. But, really, here are her results--

How You See Yourself:
Dominant/Expressive

How Others See You:
Dominant/Amiable

Behavior At Work:
Expressive/Dominant

Ok, you get the idea. Now, here's where things get funny. Want to see my results?


How You See Yourself:
Expressive/Expressive

How Others See You:
Expressive/Expressive

Behavior At Work:
Expressive/Expressive

Yeah. Straight shots across Expressive. I'm awesome. Well, I suppose one could also be considered awesome if they're Grandma, but as this is my blog, I'm awesome today.

What pertinence this will have on my dating life is still completely up in the air. However, as I had an excellent date last night, I don't really think I need some silly test to tell me how to get the boys to like me :D

Happy Sunday!
posted by Gwennifer at 5:51 PM | 1 comments
October 7, 2009
Conversations with my sister :D

Things that make me unhappy:

1. Three midterms in the next seven day period
2. 50+ page reading assignments
3. Long lines at Taco Bell
4. People mutilating perfectly good words like "lackadaisical" and "jubilant"
5. Not knowing very much about Japanese theatre [and virtually nothing of Chinese dramatic arts]
6. Walking in the rain without my new wellies :[

However, it is Fall, which is pretty. Oh, alright, more things that make me happy:

1. Fall colors
2. Studying in the library until it's almost closing time
3. Pumpkin smoothies from Jamba Juice
4. Funny conversations with my mom about getting murdered while trangling around DC at midnight
5. Spending time with my brother and sister-in-law during Conference weekend
6. Babies!
7. Finishing 50+ page reading assignments
8. Edgar Allen Poe
9. International movies
10. Playing my chanter and learning new songs
11. Looking in the mirror and realizing that I look nice that day
12. Giving blood, even if it throws me for a loop
13. Ingenious Scottish detectives
14. Midnight pot roast
15. Tetris
16. Discussing my dad's wonderful lunacy with old friends
17. Roommates that make me laugh even when I feel utterly miserable
18. Bollywood movies on Friday nights
19. Running into Jeanette Sperry
20. Counting how many people I know with Swine Flu

Ok, I'm starting to get a little carried away. I'll end here by saying that daily scripture study and prayer also make me extremely happy. I know that steady communication with Heavenly Father has made life wonderful despite my staggering workload.

I'll leave you all to think about how awesome my life is. Happy Wednesday!
posted by Gwennifer at 2:13 PM | 5 comments
October 5, 2009
Interesting thought of the day:

I'm convinced it's because of where I was born and raised, but I've only ever heard people say that they're going "back East" and "out West". I've never heard it transposed to going "out East" and "back West". Again, it's just because I'm an East Coast gal myself that I've only ever heard it the former way, but I was wondering if anyone had ever heard it said the latter way.

That's all. Happy Monday!
posted by Gwennifer at 1:41 PM | 3 comments
Ok, so Grandma thought this was ridiculous--

Me: "So, the Phantom uses his 20,000 francs to buy horses to walk down ten feet of hallways, hire people to stick their arms through walls to hold his candlabras, purchase waterproof candles to pop out of the water every time he enters his cave, and peacock beds for himself."

Grandma: "Write that down right now!"

P.S. Wouldn't it be funny if it were spelled "franks"?
posted by Gwennifer at 12:09 AM | 0 comments