Memories of 2009

It seems like just yesterday I was sitting at my desk writing last years end of the year post. This year has speed by and yet was also rather long. I can't say it was the best year, but it wasn't the worst either. I've decided that instead of going into a long summary of the year, I'll merely mention the things I really enjoyed. This way, I can look back and remember the good and forget the not so good.
I suppose the year began, in a way, with the performance of Pippin. It was such a grand experience to be a part of, and it changed the way I see musicals. Before Pippin, I hated musicals and didn't want to be a part of one, and after I was craving for more. It is very different from normal theater and I'm not saying I like it more. I suppose it is a build up of nerves, a bigger inhale before stepping out onto the stage and a bigger round of applause when the certain falls. I learned a lot doing that play.
The daddy daughter dance was fun as always, I'm so happy its almost here once again! And prom was fun as well, although I'm still not sure whether it is my cup of tea or not. I suppose I have two more years to find out.
And with that, the school year came to its close. With promises of laughter and seeing each other once again we were launched into glorious summer vacation. In my case, that meant climbing aboard a plane to Ecuador. That was one of those trips that while you're there you often miss home and the little things we take advantage of here, but at the same realize what a wonderful time you're having. For example, staying in the amazon was amazing. I don't think I'll ever forget that even with all the troubles we encountered. It was so amazing to be around such a source of green and vitality. It makes you feel more alive. After all it is considered to be the lungs of the planet, so I suppose its natural to feel so wonderful there. People talk about how there can be no good without bad, this trip was a perfect example. It was great at some times and not so much at others. One thing I must say, the food was very very good. The potato soup, wow.
Once we returned, it was off to Comic Con. Those three days contained some of my favorite moments of this year. Being there with friends like My and Mary was such a blast! I can't imagine having more fun then I had with those two. Meeting the writers of Lost and getting to go to the Lost panel are two memories I will cherish forever. I'm not kidding, seeing that panel was utterly unbelievable. In fact it was definitely one of my top three things of 2009. It may sound weird to feel this way about a TV series, but I suppose its more than that. It's about being part of the world that is Lost, because for anyone who really loves Lost, that was history. Yes, it may just be an hour long talk, but it was the last of its kind. There will never ever be a Lost panel again, and although I may be totally obsessed My, who has never watched the show, will tell you it was pretty fun to be a part of.
Two Gentlemen of Verona was an interesting and educational experience. I got a leading girl in a Shakespeare play which hasn't happened since second grade. I got to play alongside Ventana in a role that I think related a lot to me at the time I was playing it. Although I wasn't always super happy, I think it was a great experience. I can't wait for next summer to do it all over again.
I set an odd record this year for longest postponement of a birthday party. My birthday is the end of January and I finally had a party in August, more than six months later. I don't know what that says about me, but it definitely says something.
School began again, bringing the perks of eleventh grade, a new play and the Catalina trip. I won't go into the trip to much, but I will say that snorkeling in the kelp forests was such an awesome experience. I had such a blast and it was so breathtaking in that world beneath the waves.
The rest of the year had flown by in a flurry of play rehearsals, German exams and weird revelations. I've also been taking a ton of pictures and discovered just how much I love photography, I've improved so much since last year. I hope the same is true for 2010.

Throughout this year I've had friendships disappear completely, new ones arise, tears and tantrums, a new love of singing, several shocks and inspiration from a source I would never have expected. It's been quite a ride and I find myself hoping for a little bit of a break, but alas breaks never come when you could use them.
And I suppose with that it is time to wish a fond farewell to 2009. I suppose that is why I've never liked New Years, because of saying goodbye and knowing that it'll never be here again. I'll look back at this year and smile as well I breath a sigh of relief knowing that its over. Its been a year to grow and learn and I believe next year will be as well. I think this year has shown me that I need to take chances and not do what I always do and hide away from them. And with that, I bid you adieu 2009.

Bonjour 2010!

Christmas 2009

So Christmas has come and gone once again. It feels as though it always seems to pass to quickly, don't you agree? As always, on Christmas morning I went down to my grandparents (the Neuharts) house for presents and breakfast.I always love opening gifts and seeing others people faces when they open theirs. I received many wonderful things including a camera I was dying to get, some amazing cookbooks, a great pair of flowered tights and the Monty Python the Almost Truth.After presents we had breakfast which consisted of scrambled eggs, oranges, bacon, prune bread, sassauge and my personal favorite, fruit salad. The table looked so pretty! I found myself taking many many pictures with the new camera.I also made poppy-seed cupcakes with silver "vintage" Christmas trees for on top.
In all it was a perfectly lovely Christmas day! I hope yours was lovely as well.

Avatar

I've been wanting to review this film for some time now. Maybe because of all the hype, or maybe because of something else. Well I can say this for sure, visually, the film is Stunning. The world of Pandora is just breathtaking and so life-like. The creatures also look great, as if they can come right off of the screen. Avatar is the story of a human settlement on a foreign planet in order to mine. Due to troubles with the indigenous people the "Avatar" project is created in which a human can "drive/control" a being that looks just like those of the indigenous people. It is one man's journey to learn the ways of the people and in a way, learn who he is as well. Like I said before, the film looks amazing. It also had a wonderful message about the environment and greed of the corporation. It was so nice to see such a meaningful message in such a main stream, blockbuster film. The story wasn't bad by any means, but I felt as though I had seen it before. Several times I thought to myself "this is just like Eragon, Princess Mononoke, Nausicaä, Final Fantasy, Ant Bully, Pendragon, Matrix, Avatar the Last Airbender, Dragon Harper, Dances with Wolves" or many other things I've seen/read. It seemed to have a great deal of borrowed interest.
I suppose before I even saw the film, I never really gave it film a fair shot. I was caught up in dislike of the director and how he self-proclaimed that his work is "the next big thing." I feel that when presenting ones work, whether film, art, or even literature, one should present it with humility, not as if it is the most amazing thing in the world. It's one thing to be proud of an accomplishment and another to be arrogant. Yes this film pushed the boundaries of what we've seen in the world of visual effects, but when it comes down to it does that matter, if the story has been told before? Can a film be truly visionary or unique if the story is lacking? I believe that once someone tells a new story, one that we've never heard, and combines it with stunning visuals then you will have "the next big thing." It's like they say "you can't judge a book by its cover" the same is true for film, you can't say it is a perfect film until its contents matches its appearance.Until its story is as unique and beautiful as its visuals. When that day comes everyone will be able to say that that person did something that is truly stunning.
In all I did like the film. I thought that as a whole it was well done. I recommend the film, even if just for the visuals and the message, which are both beautiful.