Les Miserables =)

So in my last post, I referenced Les Miserables. I have had a 12 year relationship with the famous novel by Victor Hugo. It is considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century and the third longest-running show in Broadway history. When I was 10 or 11, Dad went to New York with the youth at our church. They went and saw Les Mis. When he came home, he bought the CD and made me listen to it. I absolutely fell in love with it. At that point, Dad promised me that if I read the novel he would take me to see the Broadway musical.

The next year, when I was 12, our family went to Denver for Spring Break. In the airport, Dad and I were looking at the bookstore and we found a copy of the novel. Dad bought it for me. I don’t think he really expected me to read the whole thing. But I did.

It took me about two weeks, but I read all of the over 1,400 page book (remember I was 12). Anyway I told Dad I had read it, but he didn’t believe me and proceeded to quiz me extensively on the plot line. I guess I passed! In the past years, I have reread it about 5 or 6 times.

Three years later, the musical came to Birmingham and Dad took me to see it! I loved it! My favorite song is One Day More and my favorite character is Eponine. I know that everyone loves Jean val Jean, and Fantine, but something in me loves Eponine. I guess I always love the underdog. I mean the poor girl is in love with Marius, but he loves the beautiful Cosette. She sings a song about unrequited love (On My Own)  and dies in the end after getting shot and sings a beautiful duet with Marius (A Little Fall of Rain).

So in the years since that time, I have listened to the music off and on. I also began writing my thesis on the theme of paternal relationships in Les Miserables. Although I did not finish said thesis, I enjoyed delving into the relationships between fathers and daughters.

 This past weekend dad gave me a copy of the 25^th Anniversary concert. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see the songs performed again.

Here’s my favorite!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxFMIQumXS0

Nick Jonas as Marius was a little weird, but he did a good job. Lea Salonga as Fantine was fabulous and of course Alfie Boe as Jean Val Jean was fabulous!

And now we have tickets to see it again in Birmingham in October!

I think that the play is so powerful because the major theme is redemptions. Jean val Jean is a convict, who changes his life through his determination and the mercy of a priest. Everyone has areas in their life that need redemption.

Home Improvement

This weekend was a slight whirlwind. Friday I went home to see my parents for the first time since Christmas. Judson(my brother) and I went to see The Eagle, a fabulous movie with Channing Tatum.

Although I totally proved Anna (Judson's girlfriend) correct by listing Channing Tatum as one of the main reasons I wanted to see this (He is an Alabama boy and totally good looking), the main reason I wanted to see it was because of the story line.

In 140 AD, twenty years after the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in the mountains of Scotland, young centurion Marcus Aquila (Tatum) arrives from Rome to solve the mystery and restore the reputation of his father, the commander of the Ninth. Accompanied only by his British slave Esca (Bell), Marcus sets out across Hadrian's Wall into the uncharted highlands of Caledonia - to confront its savage tribes, make peace with his father's memory, and retrieve the lost legion's golden emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth.

I love this era of history! Not to mention that I teach British Literature and we have just completed the unit on it! Although early Brit Lit is not my favorite thing to teach... it is still a fascinating period of time.

Also this weekend, I got my dad to fix my desk... This past week I seriously considered moving into a cute little rental house very close to where I live. I really liked it - especially the wood floors!  But it was a little more than I needed to pay. But because I decided not to move, I thought that it was time to finish decorating! My poor bedroom has been a mismatched mess since I moved in! But I got my new comforter for Christmas, so now is a good time to decorate!! So Dad fixed my desk and I sanded and painted it and a new side table yesterday! While I sanded and painted, I watched the 25th Anniversary concert of Les Miserables... but that is another blog.

Anyways so now I have painted my desk, all except for the drawers. I also bought a pretty blue and white vase, a new shower curtain, and some new towels. I also am planning on painting some canvases to go over my bed. Pictures will be coming soon!

Here I Go Again

Well... Here I go again. I have tried the blogging thing before and it never really stuck. But as it is the latest trend, I will try to be slightly consistent. Really as I think about it more, the more it reminds me of my own self centeredness... Why should I care if anyone reads what I write. But I think it will be interesting to try... a social experiment if you will. So perhaps you will think me witty. Perhaps you will think I am crazy... Or perhaps you will think I need to get a life. Whatever.