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Young, Gifted, and Not Getting into Harvard "I came to understand that my own focus on Harvard was a matter of not sophistication but narrowness. I grew up in an unworldly blue-collar environment. Getting perfect grades and attending an elite college was one of the few ways up I could see. My four have been raised in an upper-middle-class world. They look around and see lots of avenues to success. My wife’s two brothers struggled as students at mainstream colleges and both have made wonderful full lives, one as a salesman, the other as a builder. Each found his own best path. Each knows excellence." 
I watched a very odd film yesterday called Badlands. It's one of Terrence Malick's earlier films, and I really liked it. Initially, I didn't think I would because Terrence Malick's films tend to... progress slowly (think The Thin Red Line or The New World). Don't get me wrong, I really do enjoy his films. I love the way he composes and frames his shots and his use of natural light. It's just that sometimes, they're a little hard to get through. Anyway, Badlands. It stars a very young Martin Sheen (Kit) who's a James Dean wannabe--he's got the hair, the jeans, the shirt, everything--and a young Sissy Spacek (Holly). He was 25, she was 15. They fell in love and then she watched him go on a killing spree. I know, right? (It's based loosely off of the Starkweather/Fugate murders.) I say the film is odd, or more so off, because there's this strange innocence that swirls around the two. There's this certain ambivalence, I guess. I mean, Holly just watched it all happen, kind like us, the viewers. It just... happened. I really can't describe it any other way. The dialogue made laugh many a time throughout the film because the things they said didn't relate to anything. They were carrying on as normal despite whatever was going on. Example: after Kit killed someone, he brings a toaster into the kitchen and says to Holly, "I found your toaster." You would think it's random but it's not. It just adds to that strange innocence. And the bravado and calmness of Kit through everything is a little unsettling but at the same time, you find yourself sympathizing with him? It's that weird contradicting of emotions. I could go on trying to write what's running through my mind but I think you guys should watch the film. You'll know what I mean once you see it. 
This past Sunday, Super-J and I wandered over to Roosevelt Island. We spent the day exploring and accidentally trespassed on some property. We found out later when we stopped to glance at a map. Oops. But hey, the gate was open so we strolled right on in. Who wouldn't? Behind said area was the old Smallpox Hospital. We both really wanted to go in and climb around the rumble. Alas, it was fenced off. It would make such a great horror movie film site. In fact, I kept hoping I'd see someone darting in and out of the shadows. Oh, man. To be there at night. That would be awesome. We almost finished walking the length of it before turning back. I'd like to go back to see the Lighthouse, so maybe more photos will be added to the set! We took the tram back into the belly of the beast and I have say, the view from the tram is pretty amazing (see above photo). I noted how quiet and calm it was on the island. I mean, green grass, blooming cherry blossoms (heck, blooming everything!), and people actually exercising outdoors. It was like this utopia; it seemed so perfect. It was unreal. So, naturally, there has to be something wrong with it... right? Perhaps a secret society that gathers at night and chants in a circle with candles? Maybe, maybe not. I can say this though: going back into the belly of the beast was a weird culture shock. The first thing I see is this. And I was only across the river. It's weird, and I'll keep saying that. But at least I found some kind of sanctuary in this crazy place. 
(The "surfboard" zoomed out) On Saturday night, my friend and I went to see Point Break LIVE! I had heard about it through word of mouth, and after seeing Hot Fuzz, it sealed the deal: I had to see it. The catch with PBL! is that in each show, someone gets chosen from the audience to play Keanu Reeves' part, Johnny Utah. It makes it really funny because, well, anyone can Keanu (bless his heart). ...it was okay. I think I overhyped it for myself and expected something better? It was funny and I enjoyed most parts, just some were overly done. They definitely hit upon the best quotes from the movie: "Utah! Get me two!" "You gonna jump or jerk off?" "Vaya con dios!" Oh, oh! My favorite part of the movie: when Keanu wants to shoot Bodhi but can't because he's grown strangely close to him so he points the gun towards the sky and shoots it while screaming. "Ahhh!!!" YES. I laughed hard when they reenacted it in PBL! There's this $1 survival kit you should probably get because it has a poncho and fake money. The poncho is key because there's surfing in the film after all. I got splashed with water and splattered with fake blood. The money? You'll probably get robbed. All in all, I can say that I survived Point Break LIVE! 
(Close up of the ice cream float) I think the blueberry doughnuts at Dunkin' Donuts are a hidden treasure. They're my favorite. What's yours? 
Whoo, I am definitely getting my share of sunlight these days! It's supposed to hit 80 degrees tomorrow and that's fantastic. And then I think it's supposed to dip back down into the 50's later in the week, but that's okay. My serotonin levels are flying high and I am feeling good! 
I've been counting down the days to Hot Fuzz since the summer. And all I have to say is that it was badass and amazing. That is all. 
I get in those introspective moods when I'm up late. It's the middle of the night and it's just me and the glowing computer screen. I usually pull out some paper and write what I'm thinking or sometimes, I write a completely and ridiculously long email to a friend. I did the latter the other night and when he saw me the next day, he said, "Dude, that was cracked out." I know, I know. I was thinking and writing about what if's. What if I had chosen a different path? Where would I be? Who would I be? I kept going back to the thought of who I am and who I might've been. A large part of me wonders who I might've been. I mean, who hasn't thought about that? I could've been a rebel. I could've been horrible and mean. I could've taken that wrong turn and gone down a destructive path. And strangely enough, I think I would've been okay with that. I wouldn't change a thing, but I can't help but wonder. 
I hope things will be okay. Let the healing begin. 
I went to see Blades of Glory yesterday night, and I have to say, it was really funny. There were so many parts that I laughed until my sides hurt. Now, I loved Anchorman but Blades was right up there with it. Will Ferrell is comedy gold, and I know quite a few people who beg to differ, but he has me rolling in the aisles every time. Jimmy: "I see you got fat!" Chazz: "I see you still look like a 15-year-old girl but not hot!" I bought a Green Tea muffin mix from TJ's yesterday and made them late last night with Tall-E. We were both intrigued and even more so when we saw that the mix was a whole lot greener than we thought. And then we grew a little worried after they finished baking because they were still... green. Not at all like the photo on the box! Here's a photo to illustrate what I mean. You see? But, looks aside, they taste delicious. Oh, the rain is coming down. It's like Mother Nature needed a good cry and here it is. I only ventured outside once today just because I was going a little stir crazy with sitting inside and all. But it's all good. I'm going to make a cup of tea (perhaps green?) and enjoy a nice, rainy day in. By the way, I finally joined Twitter. Now you can see what's up and give a shout if you have an account, too! 
It's beautiful today. In the upper 50's, sunny, and wonderful. Tomorrow is supposed to be a monstrous storm: heavy rain and wind sometimes gusting up to 50MPH. This is, literally, the calm before the storm. My friend's nephew came to visit yesterday and he was fun. We all sang and danced to Disney songs and ate pizza. If you ask him, "What do you say when you see a pretty lady?" He'll say, "Tap that shit!" It is, quite possibly, one of the funniest things in the world. It's not encouraged, but it was absolutely for our amusement just this once. 
Perhaps the ultimate realization is when you stop lying to yourself, that this is the true reality. You see yourself for who you really are and suddenly, a gentle peace comes over you. It's okay, you say. It's okay. It's been a quiet week. I'll say, the passing of Kurt Vonnegut was strange-- strange in that I had just read Cat's Cradle and have been talking about Slaughterhouse-Five for the past month. But... so it goes. Requiem by Kurt Vonnegut: When the last living thing has died on account of us, how poetical it would be if Earth could say, in a voice floating up perhaps from the floor of the Grand Canyon, “It is done.” People did not like it here. 
Happy Easter! (to those who celebrate) 
It started to snow as I walked down the street on Thursday. It was bizarre because the sky was mostly blue but strangely, it was nice. I liked looking down the street and watching the flakes swirl around. It stopped after a while. It's April, and toastier.org just got a spring time facelift. Oh, Alanis Morissette. This is way too funny. I love the way she emphasizes the lyrics because, really, those lyrics are ridiculous. |
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Hi, my name is Amy. Be well, and say hello!
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