Well, we made it to the new year. Well done. After a glorious week of social engagements back in Nashville after Christmas in Carolina, I faced the trauma today of... back to school. Actually I went back yesterday, but it was just a silly workday with no kids. But it was yesterday that the shiite really hit my fan when I found out I would have my second FORMAL observation of the year, by the principal, TODAY. Let me explain: usually I get to choose the date myself, about two weeks out, and I get to choose the class that she comes to observe, and I get to plan the kind of jaw-dropping theatrics that make Language Arts at the 8th-grade level comparable to, well, one of the best movies of the year! But alas, my principal "failed to realize " her file on me was due - something like, next week - so we had to get this observation in quickly. Good grief. Not the best way to start back. The odds were stacked against me - kids would be groggy from break - not ready to sit still, not ready to learn. I, too, am weak. I'm off my game. I haven't had to project my voice over the din of teenagers in two weeks. But amazingly, and I use that word literally here, I kicked butt. Took some names. Inspired some kids to love learning, and writing, and adjectives. It's fascinating to me how one can be feel "good at" something that they don't really enjoy all the time. Maybe that's the nature of any career - I'm asking, because I honestly don't know.
Sidenote: I talked to my good friend Maggie this week about that career change idea - where I'm going with all that (see previous blog "I hate my job") and I realized I am in for a SERIOUS butt-kicking from SEVERAL people if I end up doing this job another year after all the trauma I put my loved ones through these few months. Hmm... I think this is called "accountability." I'll be processing further in my private journal (oh don't you wish you could get a hold of that one).
SO - speaking of the movies I alluded to in my last blog: thanks to my Pier One gift card from Santa (he's so GREAT!) I got a cool DVD tower, which will help alleviate some of the stress that the overflowing movies have put on my faithful TV armoire. Since I've been a total slacka-- in going to the theater lately - I don't want to talk about it - I can only recommend to you my favorite DVD's of the moment. And let me just add a note about movie rentals: who are we kidding? What a waste of time. Pay a buck-fifty more and go see the movie in the theater when it comes out, or pay a few dollars more and own the thing. Seriously. You should read up, ask around, and be able to commit to the purchase of any movie really worth seeing.
I should preface these recommendations on the disclaimer that I am not a gifted, insightful movie critic, but simply a pop-culturally ravenous fan of the movie experience. I will list movies that may not be new, but are simply my current faves and most recent discoveries of must-have-dom. I hope we're clear.
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - all of the "end of the year best-of" lists have positively affirmed my proclamation at my first viewing that this is the greatest movie of the year. Jim Carrey as Joel is striking, brilliant, different. And I want to be Kate Winslet. Clementine makes me want to explore different hair colors. And oh yeah, their love story is pretty great. And speaking of Kate, let's go back to 1995...
2. Sense and Sensibility - I warned you this would be random. After searching for this movie all year, it's finally been rereleased or something because I found it at Circuit City in G-vlle... and now I see it everywhere. It's a Jane Austen novel (oh how we girls love her) and it maintains this sense (no pun intended) of suspense throughout the entire movie where you just know that Edward should be with Elinor, but HOW can it happen? And K.W.'s part as Marianne is brilliant and funny, and her flaws are so familiar to me (sigh.) Love it.
3. Return of the King (Lord of the Rings Part III) - I got the extended DVD and am so very thankful that I finally figured out that silly Peter Jackson's marketing ploy of offering the DVD in the spring, but then offering the REAL deal five months later. I didn't have to buy this twice. It is just breathtaking to watch this film - the characters, the effects (that freaking spider makes me CRAZY, and the army of the dead-whoa) and the story (this is the best of the books, by the way, including The Hobbit, in my overzealous opinion.) Sidebar random confession: secret crush on Pippin. Aragorn was great in the first two, but... I honestly forgot the time watching this monster of a movie (about four hours.) It takes my breath away.
4. Gone With the Wind (extended glorious fabulous set) - this was another Santa surprise (ok, that I asked for.) I have yet to actually watch the movie (oh I've seen it bunches of times before) because the extra features are so great. There are four discs, and two of them are all special features, and so far, I've seen these biographies of the cast that are like full-on A&E biographies on these people. Did you know that Vivien Leigh was the 244th actress to audition for Scarlett? And she got it walking on the set before she's said a word. It's true what I've heard about "looking" the part. And I am stunned at the number of people I've met recently who have never seen this movie. It leaves me speechless. Before I ream them for being un-American and faking being Southerners. Shameful.
5. Garden State - obviously, the best soundtrack for a feature film this year. Saw this in Boulder with Jenn in Oct. and we bought it immediately upon leaving the theater, IN the theater lobby (now THAT's a marketing plan.) Zach Braff makes me want to hug him, Natalie is on the mark, I love that Peter Skaargard (sp?) who plays his best friend (hmm... the ring stuff - wild.) Oh yeah, speaking of Natalie...
6. Closer - So I did see something in the theater recently, and she was my favorite part of this movie (surprisingly, not Jude Law, CERTAINLY not Julia Roberts, though I was thankful that she did more in this movie than flash her huge teeth at me.) Back to Nat - she's got to win something for this. Garden State good, Closer even better. (And Amidala is coming... May 19...) Easily-offended people take note: this film is the most sexually graphic movie I've seen, and there is no nudity. Hmmm.
7. Well, this is exhausting, so I'll end with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban because it is a good adaptation of my favorite of all 5 Harry Potter's that I've read so far, and it is a good ride. (Secret crush: Ron. What a cutie! Secret age-appropriate crush: Gary Oldman as Sirius Black.) The time-travel aspect in quite fascinating, and Emma Thompson is hilarious as Professor Trelawney - just check out her glasses. Priceless. Fun for the whole family (Closer - not so much.)
There are more, but alas, I must sleep to be fresh for the youth. America's future awaits with bated breath my lessons of truth, knowledge, sentence-diagramming. It's all about making a difference.
Have a fabulous week!
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