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Thursday, December 17th, 2009
darthzal
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8:11p
Celebrating bi(r)thdays!
I find it highly amusing that today is the BI(R)THDAY of both ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) klena and crazy_megan ! Greetings go to you on your special day! Well, I don't know if it has been a special day for anyone of you, but my HOPES are it has. ;)
Also, my thoughts are with you, even though we are separated by oceans. Literally. Damn those waves.
My day has been everything but special. I got up early, I left Uppsala by train, I sat for for hours on said train, and I got off the train in Ljungby, where Mum picked me up. Then I spent a couple of hours freezing my nose off, as it is VERY COLD HERE!, and then I spent another bunch of hours working on my essay.
Then I decided that I'm not going to take this crap anymore, because people are having bi(r)thdays on the other side of the world, and who am I to write essays when I should be congratulating said girls?
I wish I could be there and celebrate with you. But do take care, and hopefully we'll se each other again soon (Megan, come to the spring ball, DARN YOU!!).
Now, I'm not going to mope about the fact that I have to finish an essay and a home exam during the holidays, since I know that when I'm all done with those, in the middle of January, I'm going to Jordan with my mother and our friend. It will be my first visit to Asia - I'm thrilled! I just might live though the academic ordeal preceding the journey.
Oh, well. Now I'm off to bring Mum home safe and sound from a night out with the girls!
current mood:  tired
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benskog
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1:18a
Saturnalia!
And my birthday!
Snow! (I placed an order. Hee-hee.)
A subscription to the fantastic magazine Bust!
Sushi!
A wonderful, mad, oversize t-shirt in peach and leopard prints!
Bliss!
And a neighbour who exclaimed: "I thought you were much younger!"
current mood:  happy
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(6 comments | comment on this) Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
arachniaflora
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11:29p
Snön lyser alldeles vit och det har blivit ordentlig vinter återigen.
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(comment on this)
keeloca
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12:27p
Illness vs. Christmas, no prisoners.
Have fallen ill, which suck major lingam, but whatever. On break from daylong seminar now, and tomorrow I have an information meeting kinda thing, but then, my dear boom babies - it's Christmas come to bloody town, dancing with the reindeers, deck the halls and going frikkin' insane with the baking, cooking, packing of presents, buying stuff and stuff and stuff. In short, getting ready for the holidolidays!
Yeah, so I'm psyched. I love Christmas. No bloody illness is going to ruin the big day (and more importantly, the big preparations) for me. Oh no, sirre! Gonna kick that sickness' ass all the way back to sickness land. Dunno where that is, but it better be far, far away.
Oh, class is starting again. Sayonara!
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(comment on this) Monday, December 14th, 2009
operakullan
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8:17p
Elektra på Kungliga Operan
I helgen var det dags för Elektra att ha premiär i Stockholm. Jag skrev redan i somras att det är en opera som jag nog egentligen inte är så förtjust i, varken vad det gäller handling eller musik, men det vore ändå spännande att se. Det tycker jag nog fortfarande, och av att läsa recensionerna blir man ju bara mer sugen. Kombinationen Staffan Valdermar Holm, Bente Lycke Möller och Katarina Dalayman har ju varit lyckad förut om man säger så. Överlag hyllas också Emma Vetters Chrysotemis, det vill säga Elektras lillasyster.
DN: Det finns inte en död sekund
SvD: Elektra värd publikens jubel
Aftonbladet: Mästerligt uppförd, framförd och utförd
Expressen: Smidigt tänkt och skönt klingande
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bandykullan
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6:41p
Meme-time
Who sleeps in bed next to you?
My carebear
What did you last eat?
Rise with sweet and sticky bacon and sugar snap peas
What kind of books do you read?
Classics, historical novels, SW novels
What are you reading right now?
World without end, Ken Follet
If you could be anywhere right now, where would it be?
I haven't been to the cineman in ages, so that would be nice
What's really creepy?
snakes
Name one odd item within five feet of you.
A bottle of East German brandy
What's your current fandom/obsession/addiction?
A-team (and SW of course)
What did you really want to do today that you didn't?
Get my washing done
What are you most excited for?
Christmas!
What would you change about the way you do things?
I'm too lazy, I should start at once and not just procrastinate
What was the last thing you bought?
Except for food; Christmas gift
What's your biggest procrastination method?
SW message boards, wikipedia
If you could pick any one talent (not superpower, talent), what would it be?
drawing
Spring, summer, fall, or winter?
Winter all the way
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(comment on this) Sunday, December 13th, 2009
benskog
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10:46p
Pottering about on a Sunday
* At last I´m allowed to handle food again. Made scones today, a whopping sixteen of them. Hubby found them. He now makes late-eventing tea for us both.
* Went to Lusse-OD yesterday. Nice, as always. The Christmas smörgåsbord was better than ever. The pickled herring had a certain bite in the taste, it wasn´t wishy-washy. Jansson´s frestelse was delicious, no crunchy fish-bones in it, and the gratin has a nice, brown crust. And marvellous Mr M. get me another Lady Lyre instead of the one that I lost at the ball last Saturday.*
* I ordered some clothes from a Danish brand. Boy, was I ever surprised when the designer herself answered to my e-mail!
* Orphei Drängar, the male singing society, has a lyre as its symbol. Every time there´s a Stor-OD (ball), the accompanying lady of the singer gets a small lyre to put on the ballgown. Every year there´s a new colour. Some of the veteran wives look like awarded charinas.
current music: Cliff Richard & the Shadows - Don´t Forget to Catch Me
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(comment on this)
bandykullan
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8:52p
happiness is a well-fitting bra
So two weeks ago me and the rest of the bandyteam had an evening together at the top underwear store in town. What a difference it was to get a bra professionally fitted and getting to know what kind of underwear to wear under certain kinds of clothes. Turns out I had a cup that was around two sizes bigger than my regular size, but a circumference that was smaller. So this means that I need to totally renew my underwear wardrobe. On the other hand it wasn't as expensive as I had fear to buy there, instead of say 200 kr for a bra in a regular store I can buy a really high quality one for 400 in this store.
Now a thing that might interest a few of you on my f-list. The assistant in the shop taught us that the best colour for your underwear when you're wearing a white top is bright red! Sounds strange, but I tried it with my Leia the weekend after and it's true. It was actually less visible than when I used a nude coloured one.
On this group photo you can see me in my Leia, with a bright red bra underneath.
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(comment on this)
enjigrrl
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4:14p
This and that
Spent the morning at BMC, at a public lecture by this year's Nobel laureates in medicine. Very interesting, although I'm not sure I understood everything...
Bit tired, yesterday mom had her birthday party with about 30 guests, and I was responsible for the food. Stressful but lots of fun as well, especially since everyone enjoyed the food. Nice.
Now I need to study some chemistry. And make gingerbread dough.
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(comment on this) Saturday, December 12th, 2009
operakullan
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7:47p
100 bästa operorna - 61 Andrea Chenier av Giordano
61 Andrea Chenier by Umberto Giordano
Andrea Chénier is a verismo opera in four acts by the composer Umberto Giordano, set to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica. It is based loosely on the life of the French poet, André Chénier (1762-1794), who was executed during the French Revolution.
Synopsis
Setting
Time: 1789-93.
Place: In and around Paris.
Act I
The servants of the Countess of Coigny are preparing for a ball. Among them is Gérard, who is filled with indignation at the sight of his aged father suffering as the result of long years of abusive labor for the aristocrats. When the guests have arrived, a typical eighteenth century court pastoral with the chorus, dressed as shepherds and shepherdesses, singing idealized rustic music and the ballet mimicking a rural love story in stately court fashion. Among the guests is the dashingly popular poet, Andrea Chénier. When the Countess asks him to improvise a poem he refuses initially; but when her beautiful daughter, Maddalena, pleads with him he consents. Maddalena flirtatiously suggests the subject “Love,” but he soon forgets this, and sings of the misery and suffering of the poor instead which leads to a tirade against those in power in church and state. With the exception of Maddalena, the ball's privileged guests are outraged by Chénier's idealistic social and human creed. Gérard appears leading a crowd of ragged men and women and they are summarily ordered to leave the castle. Outraged, Chénier follows them.
Act II
Chénier is now a revolutionary activist and a wanted man. He is advised to flee by his friend Roucher, who has acquired a passport he can use. Chénier, however, has fallen in love with Maddalena and refuses to leave without her. Coincidentally, Maddalena soon arrives having sneaked away from her family with the desire of joining the revolution. The lovers rejoice in each other's company briefly but are interrupted when they are discovered by Gérard, who is also infatuated with Maddalena. They fight over her with swords and Gérard is wounded. Believing he is dying, he warns Chénier to flee from the wrath of his revolutionary enemies, and asks him to save Maddalena also. When a mob arrives on the scene a few minutes later, Gérard tells them that his assailant is unknown to him.
Act III
Gérard has recovered and is presiding over a revolutionary tribunal. A spy announces Chénier’s arrest for having dared criticize the cruelty of the powerful revolutionary leader Robespierre. This is too good an opportunity to make away with a rival, and as he is about to put his signature to the fatal document, he laughingly asks himself, “An enemy of his country?” ... he knows well that is the standard charge against one’s personal enemies. Yet he hesitates for a moment recalling that it was Chénier’s inspired verse that first awakened his own patriotism . . . now to satisfy his passions he sacrifices a friend. The struggle of honor and desire is beautifully expressed in the music ... a bit of the Marseillaise is suggestively quoted by the orchestra. Finally desire triumphs and Gérard signs in a mood of cynicism.
Hurried before the tribunal, Chénier pleads for himself vehemently, saying that he, a soldier, fought for his country; if he must die, let him die fighting for it, not shamefully executed. Maddalena, whose mother has meanwhile perished, also appears. She offers to give herself to Gérard to save Chénier’s life. Gérard then pleads for the poet; but it is now too late. The mob thirsts for blood.
Act IV
While confined in the gloomy St. Lazare prison, Chénier awaits his execution. He spends his time writing verses of poetry which express his faith in truth and beauty. Meanwhile, Maddalena bribes her way into the prison. She is ushered in to see Chénier by Gérard. The lovers have a brief tender moment before making one more failed appeal to Robespierre for a pardon. At dawn, Chénier is due to be beheaded. Unable to live without her love, Maddalena takes the place of a condemned woman and is guillotined with her lover.
Roles
Andrea Chenier - tenor
Carlo Gerard, a servant - baritone
Maddalena de Coigny - soprano
Bersi, her maid - mezzo-soprano
La Comtesse de Coigny - mezzo-soprano
Pietro Fleville, a novelist - bass
Mathieu, a sans-culotte - baritone
the Abbé, a poet - tenor
The Incredible, a spy - tenor
Roucher, a friend of Chenier - bass or baritone
Schmidth, a gaoler - baritone
Madelon - mezzo-soprano
Fouqier Tinville, the public prosecutor - bass or baritone
Master of the Household - bass
**************************
I've seen Chenier once, and I don't remember much of it. I was quite young and it was a telecast from one of the small opera scenes in Sweden. From what I remember the start was a bit slow, but it was a very emotional ending, very beautiful. The role of Andrea Chenier is considered as one of the finest tenor roles in the verismo traditions, and it's not easy for either a lyrical tenor or a Wagnerian tenor to nail it. The difficulty of the lead role is probably what has made the opera remain on the stages even today. The aria that I remember from when I saw it, and that is also possibly the most famous aria is Come un bel di di Maggio, here sung by Franco Corelli. Normally I prefer to link to videos of performances, but here's a pure music clip. It's Maria Calla's singing La Mamma Morta, an aria that has turned famous because it was used in the film Philadelphia.
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(comment on this)
saerwen_13
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8:46a
THIS IS ONE OF MY TEACHERS
LOOK AT IT LOOK AT IT LOOK AT IT- Mr. Moody ranting at some kid about watches and being late. Note that the video was completely staged, although minus the extent of the rant, the speaking style Moody uses hasn't undergone any changes. Complete with using an oar to point at the clock. That's probably why the kids asked him to perform the rant. xD Man, I ♥ Mr. Moody.
current mood:  amused
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(8 comments | comment on this) Friday, December 11th, 2009
(comment on this) Thursday, December 10th, 2009
saerwen_13
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7:55a
As I was saying, doing memes on a daily basis is difficult.
Day 01 → Your favorite song
Day 02 → Your favorite movie
Day 03 → Your favorite television program
Day 04 → Your favorite book
Day 05 → Your favorite quote
( Rest of the meme )
Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds.
Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.
The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.
It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.
-Carl Sagan
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(comment on this) Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
saerwen_13
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8:57a
Who thought that doing a meme on a daily basis would be a good idea? B(
Day 01 → Your favorite song
Day 02 → Your favorite movie
Day 03 → Your favorite television program
Day 04 → Your favorite book
( Rest of the meme )
1. This should be much easier than the last one... Miyazaki's Spirited Away. It's a beautiful, beautiful piece of animation with just the right mix of tension, heartwarming moments, and... everything else. Plus, I'd almost see a Miyazaki film just for the flying sequences...
2. I watch so little TV... erm. Pushing Daisies is an adorable show about a pie maker who can bring dead things back to life- but only for a minute, or something else will die, and he can't touch them again, or they'll go back to being dead. He solves crime with a PD who happens to be a compulsive knitter, while trying to keep from touching his love interest, Chuck, whom he brought back to life. It's beautiful, quirky, cute, and utterly heartbreaking at moments- there's a sequence where the little pie-maker finds out about the no-touching-dead-people-again part the hard way, but bringing his dead mother back to life and then having her fall over dead again when she gives him a good-night kiss. He sits there poking her, trying to get her to come back, and YE GODS IF YOU DON'T CRY YOU HAVE NO HEART.
3. Oh god. This one's going to be harder. I'll just say that at the moment, it's... ummmm... Yukio Mishima's Confessions of a Mask, about remaining a closeted gay boy in postwar Japan. I've just recently gotten into Mishima's work, and whoa, I regret not having gotten into it earlier. Really wasn't expecting it to be so approachable...
current music: n/a
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(1 comment | comment on this)
enjigrrl
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2:52p
Oh, Japan...
Apparently nothing made for kids in Japan is complete without outrageous transformations, and preferably mergings à la Power Rangers.
Note the crying Shredder in the end. Hilarious.
current mood:  amused
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